A
GUIDE
TO THE
TOWN,
»ep, an*r afctfquftfos,
OF
BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

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tjem 6ut we £et out foote upon #ome teberenb Jitftorp;
anb que£tionteia'£ Sere in tW open court, tofcicfi now Iie£
nafeeb to t&e injuries of tftormp weatfiev, gome men map Ipe
enterreb, w&o lobeb tfte «T?mrcf> £o Well, anb oabe £o labels
to't, tfceg tfcouflfct it jS&oulb Jiabe canopibe tfteir fconejS tin
©oomlie^bap ; iut all tfcinojS Jmbetfieit enb, JTJiurclie^ anb
Cittie£, wfiicf) Jabe bi^eatfetf lifte to men, mu£t Jiabe a lift*
beati tfrat toe fcabe,

A
GUIDE

TOWN, OF
BURY ST. EDMUND'S ;
WITH BRIEF NOTICES OF THE
VILLAGES & COUNTRY SEATS,
WITHIN A
CIRCUIT OF EIGHT MILES.

IPSWICH:
PRINTED BY R. DECK, CORNHILL,
FOR J. DECK, BURY ST. EDMUND'S;
SOLD BY LONGMAN, & CO. AND LACKINGTON & CO.
LONDON. 1821.

PREFACE,

The improved and improving state
of that delightful old Town, Bury St.
Edmund's, has long called for a concise
illustration of its history, its antiquities,
its great religious foundation, its an
cient and modern celebrity. Such a
volume, required not less for the ac
commodation of that influx of visitors
with which Bury is occasionally honored,
than for the use of the inhabitants, and
for the general information of the public,
will, it is hoped, be found in the present
attempt.

IV
The Rev. Dr. Yates's "History of
Bury," a work of much importance to
the learned and antiquarian reader, re
mains, it is to be lamented, in an un
finished state; and Mr. Gillingwater's
production is out of print. The for
mer, however, if complete, must have
been regarded as too expensive, and as
upon too large a scale, for general pe
rusal; whilst the latter, though too
diffuse and bulky for the casual visitant,
and, from necessity, without any account
of recent changes, was altogether in
adequate to the wishes of those who were
anxious for more extensive research.
As a portable guide through the Town
of Bury and its environs, this volume
will furnish all the requisite historical
and descriptive information. One of its
novel and not least interesting features
is, a brief Account of the Principal Seats
and Villages, within a Circuit of Eight
Miles round the Town, with their respective
Bearings and Distances. It is also the
only work which contains a Complete

List of the numerous Benefactions, 8fc.
which have, from time to time, been made
to the Corporation, Parishes, Schools, Sfc.
of Bury St. Edmund's.
For those who may be desirous of pos
sessing a more comprehensive account,
especially of the circumjacent Seats and
Villages, an enlarged edition of this work
is in preparation; which will embrace,
besides considerable amplification in the
descriptive parts, some ancient historical
documents, and much curious matter,
drawn from original sources, which have
been obligingly opened to the Editor.

DIRECTIONS

PLACING THE PLATES.

Abbey Gate, opposite page
St. Mary's Church
St. James's Church
Saxon Tower
St. Petronilla's Hospital

4969
79
82
97

HISTORICAL,
Sj-c. Sre &fc.

GENERAL HISTORY.

Xjury St. Edmunds, the metropolis ofthe western
division of the county of Suffolk, is 26 miles N. W.
from its sister town of Ipswich; 12 N. from Thet
ford; 14 W. from Newmarket; and 72 N. E. by N.
from London, Seated on a gentle acclivity, on the
western bank of the river Bourne, or Larke1, this
ancient, beautiful, and eminently salubrious town
has a charmingly inclosed country on the south and
south-west; on the north and north-east, champaign
fields extend into the well cultivated county of Nor
folk; whilst, on the east, the country is partly open
B

and partly inclosed. Formerly, a detraction from
its beauty was the deficiency of wooded scenery,
in the immediate vicinity of the town ; but, within the
last fifty years, that desideratum has been most agree
ably supplied.
From the pleasantness of its situation, the varied
extent of its views, and the salubrity of its air, it
has been denominated the Montpellier of England.
The climate of Montpellier, however, is hot and
moist; that of Bury, cold and dry; and, whilst the
former is regarded as particularly favourable to the
relief of pulmonic affections, the latter is more
congenial to robust constitutions, and established
health. The etymology of Bury has been a fruitful field
for discussion amongst antiquaries. It is believed,
by some, to be the Villa Faustini, or the seat of
Faustinus, mentioned inthe Itinerary of Antoninus;
but, as it is not clear whether such a person as
Faustinus ever existed, others contend that the name
should have been written Villa Faustina, as though
it were derived from Faustus, thus characterizing
the place as the seat of prosperity, or the fortunate,
prosperous, pleasant, or happy town. They who
favour the latter opinion, tell us, that it was so
regarded by the Saxons, by whom it was called
Beoderic-weord, or Beoderici-cortis, or the villa of
Beodericus's court, or farm, words of the same
import. To us, the following derivation seems more
simple and natural. The place was called, by the

Saxons, Beoderic's-worth; that is to say, the seat,
mansion, or residence of Beoderic. Accordingly,
we find a paper, entitled " Notes concerning Bury
St. Edmund's in the county of Suffolk," found in the
Earl of Oxford's library, by Mr. Wahley, com
mencing thus : — " In very ancient times, one Beoderic
was owner of the ground, where the abbey and town
of Bury St. Edmund's was afterwards built; from
which the Beoderic village (then very small) was
called Beodrices-worde, i. e. Beodrici Villa: and
his demesne lands were the fields adjacent to the
town of Bury, which appertained afterward to the
office (as I remember) of the Celerar. Upon the foun
dation of the monastery by K. Cnut, the old name
came to be soon out of use, and the place to be
called Burgh." The Saxons used the word Burh,
or Burg, to express a town, castle, or strong hold.
Burig, and Buruh, were also the Saxon denomina
tions of a town. From these the transitions to
Borough, and Bury, were easy; and it is deserving
of notice, that, from a comparison of many authori
ties, Burg, Borough, Bury, Bure, and Beri, appear
to be only different modes of spelling the same Saxon
term. The monkish writer, Abbo Floriacensis,
states, that Beodric, the lord of the town, bequeathed
it to St. Edmund the King and Martyr; and thus, in
a short time, it acquired its present name.
The beauty, and many natural advantages of the si
tuation, must have renderedit, at a very early period,
desirable as a residence and settlement. Whether

Bury were tbe Villa Faustini, or Faustina, of the
Itinerary, has been much questioned ; but, that it was
a Roman station of some note, there can scarcely be a
doubt. It is allowed by most writers, that, when the
Saxons established themselves in the eastern parts of
Britain, this became one of their royal towns; Abbo
Floriacensis expressly calls the town Villa Regia ;
and Bede remarks, that the Villae Regiae of the
Saxon times were generally placed on the sites of
Roman stations.
The opinion that Bury was a place of note, pre
viously to the establishment of Christianity, was
further corroborated by the discovery of some re
markable specimens of ancient sculpture, in the
spring of the year 1783, in breaking up some foun
dations in the north wall of St. Edmund's Church.
These remains, which are still preserved in the
abbey garden, consist of four antique heads, cut
out of single blocks of free-stone, something larger
than the natural proportions. Whether the execu
tion of these heads be Roman or Saxon, cannot be
ascertained; but the general idea is, that they were
intended as representations of Roman divinities.*
* The Editor of " Excursions through the Counties of Suffolk,
Essex, and Norfolk," alluding to these specimens of ancient
art, and copying from the" Beauties of England and Wales," says
— " It is obvious, even from the inspection of the representations
given in the History of Bury by Mr. Yates, that two of these
were designed for the head of St. Edmund, accompanied by the
leg of the wolf, his brute protector ; and it is highly probable,
that the other two were rudte designs on the same subject, though

5
St. Austin arrived in Britain A. D. 598. It was
not, however, until the reign of Sigbercht, the half
brother and successor of Eorpwold, who ascended
the East Anglian throne about the year 630, that a.
permanent establishment of Christianity was effected
in this part of the island. Sigbercht, during his
previous exile in France, had assiduously studied
the literature of the age, and become a zealous pro
fessor of the Christian faith. Favouring and stimu
lating the enthusiasm of the times, Sigbercht, after
his accession to the crown, founded a monastery,
and built a church, in the town of Beoderic's-worth,
which he dedicated to the honour of the Holy Virgin
St. Mary; and, after reigning about seven years,
he took the tonsure, and became a monk upon his
own foundation.
The history of the immediately succeeding reigns,
and also that of the life and actions of St. Edmund,
whose death forms a memorable epoch in the annals
of this town, are so involved in legendary fable,
that very little, can be stated with certainty respect
ing them. The former, we shall pass over in silence :
tlie latter bad not any part of the brute remaining." That these
sculptures had any reference to the history of St. Edmund, is
by no means obvious to us ; nor do we believe the opinion to be
correct. Relics so interesting, so sacred, « ould hav« been pre
served with religious care ; instead of which the heads were
found at the very bottom of the foundation, upon the natural
soil, with the faces downwards. The marked disrespect of such
a situation is a strong presumptive proof, that they were con
sidered as remains of Pagan superstition. B 5

6
on the latter, we trust that we may be pardoned for
being somewhat diffuse.
According to Galfridus de Fontibus, in his -De
Pueritia Sancti Edmundi, supposed to have been writ
ten about the year 1150, Edmund was the son of
Alkmund, a Saxon King, by his Queen Siware. He
was born at Noremburgh, the capital of his father's
dominions, in the year 841. His birth was the fulfil
ment of a prediction. Alkmund, who was distinguish
ed by valour, wisdom, and piety, went upon a pilgrim
age to Rome, and, whilst performing his devotions, a
brilliant sun was observed to display its glories on his
breast. A prophetess interpreted this to be a happy
omen, and promised Alkmund a son, whose fame
should extend over the whole world. Edmund, the
promised wonder, was born the same year. Some
time afterwards, Offa, a relation of Alkmund's, who
was then King of East Anglia, having no child to in
herit his dignities, resolved upon a pilgrimage to Je
rusalem, and there, by devotional exercises, to sup
plicate the blessings of an heir. In his way to the
Holy Land, he visited Alkmund, who entertained
him with the warmth of affection, and the splen
dour of royalty. Delighted with the pleasing manners
and estimable qualities of the youthful Edmund, he,
on his departure, presented him with a valuable ring.
"Accept," said he, " my dear Edmund, this pledge
of my regard, and memorial of an unalterable at
tachment, the result of your assiduous attentions.
With pleasure I acknowledge your kindness, and,

1
by the providence of God, it snail not want a pro
per reward." — Offa proceeded on his journey , arrived
at Jerusalem, and performed his religious exercises,
the object of his pilgrimage. On his return, he was
taken ill; and, apprehending his dissolution to be
near, he convoked his council to deliberate on the
regal succession. " My relation, the King of Sax
ony's son," said he, addressing himself to the as
sembly, " is not unknown to you : that accomplished
and elegant prince I earnestly recommend as my
successor, and your future sovereign." Thus saying,
he presented to them his royal signet, to be delivered
to Edmund as a token of his appointment. — The
funeral solemnities of Offa having been celebrated,
his nobles hastened to Saxony to deliver the royal
mandate, and to solicit Edmund to accept the vacant
crown. On their arrival, Alkmund convened his
bishops and nobles, to whom he declared the purpose
of the embassy. In concurrence with the unanimous
recommendation of the council, it was determined
that Edmund should avail himself of the offer. Alk
mund accordingly appointed a nobleman of distin-
guised wisdom and integrity to be his guardian and
counsellor; selecting also twenty of his own knights,
and the same number of Offa's East Anglian nobles,
to see the will of the deceased carried into effect
Every necessary arrangement having been made,
Edmund, amidst the tears and blessing's of his royal
parents, took leave, and sailed for East Anglia.
As soon as he reached the shores of his new domini-

8
on?, he is said to have knelt on the beach, in grate
ful praise to heaven for past mercies, and devout
prayer for future protection; and, as though pro
digies were to be ever his attendants, we are told
that five — or, as some say, twelve — springs of sweet
water immediately flowed from the dry and sandy
soil, whence the royal stranger offered up his devo
tions. Upon the same spot, in grateful remembrance
of the omen, he afterwards built the town named
Hunstanton. Edmund does not appear to have assumed the
regal dignity immediately on his arrival; as he spent
the following year in studious retirement, in the
ancient city of Attleborough, in Norfolk. Instead of
examining the laws of the state which he was about to
govern, and making himself acquainted with the cus
toms, manners, and interests of the people, whose
happiness was shortly to be entrusted to his care,
the perverted and perverting genius of the age in
duced him to employ the twelve months of his
seclusion in committing to memory the Psalter.
The book which he was supposed to have used upon
the occasion was said afterwards to have been pre
served in Bury Abbey, with religious veneration;
and a very curious ancient psalter, still to be seen in
the library of St. James's Churcb, is thought by
some antiquaries to be that very book. It seems not
at all improbable, that the young and ductile mind
of Edmund at that time received the improper bias,
which afterwards unfitted him for the government of

a state, in times of war and peril. During his re
tirement, a faction appears to have disputed his right
of succession. An assembly of the people was
therefore convoked, in which the question of ap
pointing a sovereign was solemnly discussed. Hum
bert, the venerable bishop, by his eloquence, by
producing the royal signet, and by calling forth as
witnesses the twenty East Anglian knights, suc
ceeded in convincing the assembly of the justice,
propriety, and necessity of confirming Offa's appoint
ment; and, in consequence, the nobles, attended by
a concourse of joyful people, immediately conducted
the young prince into Suffolk, and invested him with
the insignia of sovereignty. The place of his c'or-
ronation seems not to have been precisely ascer
tained; but the weight of evidence is in favour of
Bury. Of the time, there is no doubt. "The most
glorious King Edmund began his reign the 25th Dec.
A. D. 855, and was crowned and anointed King of
East Anglia, by Humbert, Bishop of Hulm, on the
following Christmas Day, A. D. 856; having then
completed the 15th year of his age."
During the reign of this prince, who, notwith
standing the unbounded praises which have been
heaped upon his memory by the monks, appears to
have partaken more of the peaceful nature of a phi
losopher, than of the warlike character of a hero,
the greater part of Britain bled beneath the merci
less sword of the Danes. Chance, and a roving
spirit, seem first to have led these savages to our

10
shores. A wandering Danish pirate reached the
Maese, in the early part of the sixth century; but
his enterprise was single, and unsuccessful; and it
was not until the year 787, that the Anglo Saxons
were molested by any of that nation. A small body of
Danes then landed in the kingdom of Wessex; and,
when the magistrate of the place questioned them
concerning their enterprise, and summoned them to
appear before the King (Brithric) and explain their
intentions, they killed him, and fled to their ships.
In 793, they made a descent on Holy Island, on the
coast of Northumberland, plundering the monastery,
and killing, or carrying away the monks. They re
peated their visit there, in the following year, when
one of their leaders perished. From that time, till
the reign of Egbert, they are not mentioned. In
creasing in power, and extending the range of their
hostilities, they, in 838, ravaged East Anglia, Kent,
and Lindesey, in Lincolnshire. In 851, for the
first time, they ventured to winter in the Isle of
Thanet; and, from that period, they seem to have
formed the design of fixing themselves in the country.
— Soon afterwards, the celebrated leader, Ragnar
Lodbrog, makes his appearance in history. The
generally received story relating to this commander,
and his two sons, Inguar and Hubba, the successful
invaders of East Anglia, as handed down to us by
the monkish writers, is, in substance as follows.
Lodbrog, Lothbroc, or Lothbrocus, King of Den
mark, endeavoured to stimulate the ambition of his

II
sons, by reciting to them reports of the great success
and fame of Edmund, the East Anglian King. His
recital had the desired effect. The young men de
termined, by an attack upon Edmund's: dominions,
to establish their own fame upon the ruins of his.
A favourable opportunity soon presented itself.
Lodbrog, whilst hawking on the shore, observed his
favourite hawk fall into the sea. He got into a boat
to rescue his bird, was driven from his own coast,
and cast on shore in Norfolk. The inhabitants of
the country presented him, with his hawk, to King
Edmund, who kindly and liberally entertained him;
requested him to make some stay at his court; and
appointed his own falconer, Bern, or Berrick, as
an attendant on the Danish monarch. Lodbrog's
skill and success, in his favourite diversion of hawk
ing, excited the admiration of Edmund, and filled
Bern with jealousy and envy. Impelled by those
malignant passions, he seized an opportunity, whilst
he and the royal visitor were in the woods, of mur
dering him and concealing his body. — Lodbrog's ab^
sence from the court of Edmund, for three days,
occasioned much alarm. His favourite greyhound
was observed to come home for food; but, after
much fawning, and- taking remarkable notice of the
King and his Nobles, he retired. On the fourth
day he was followed, and, by that wonderful instinct
which distinguishes the canine species, he conducted
his followers to the remains of his murdered master.
Edmund instituted an examination, and the dog, by

12
the ferocity which he displayed towards Bern,
pointed him out as the murderer. Guilt having thus
fixed itself upon him, Edmund ordered him to be
committed to the waves, alone, and in the same open
boat, without mast, sail, or oar, which had brought
Lodbrog to the East Anglian coast. Driven by the
wind to the shores of Denmark, the Danes recognized
the boat, and earnestly enquired for their Sovereign.
Bern inform them, that Lodbrog, having been cast
on shore in East Anglia, had been put to death by
order of King Edmund. Such a statement was cal
culated to call forth the spirit of revenge. Inguar
and Hubba determined on immediate retribution;
and, with an army of 20,000 men, conducted by
Bern, and attended by Ralfdene, Osketel, Bagsed,
Hosten, Eowils, Hamund, and Guthrum, they set
sail for East Anglia. On their arrival they over-ran
the country, slaughtered, without distinction of age
or sex, its peaceful inhabitants, inflicted a cruel
death of torture on their King, and destroyed, for
ever, the East Anglian state. Such is the tale,
which, for nearly a thousand years, has amused and
interested our ancestors; but, shrinking from the
Ithuriel spear of truth, it proves to be little more
than a pleasing fiction. Mr. Turner, by an elaborate
chronological research, has ineontestibly established
the fact, that Lodbrog met his fate in Northumbria,
and not in East Anglia. Taking the Quida, or death
song of Ragnar Lodbrog, for his data, and collating
it with various other authorities, Mr. Turner makes

13
it appear, that Lodbrog, who was a distinguished
warrior of his age, was shipwrecked on the North
umbrian coast, some time between the years 862
and 867. " Though thrown on the coast of enemies,
without means of return, he moved forward as soon as
he got on the shore, to plunder and ravage, as if
disdaining to recollect that his small band would soon
be confronted by a nation's array. — Ella at that time
commanded in the throne of Deira, and, with the
force of his kingdom, marched up to the fearless
Vickingr;* a fierce, though unequal conflict ensued.
It was a Danish maxim, never to refuse the combat,
even with the most superior foe. Ragnar, clothed
in the garments which he had received from his be
loved Aslauga at their parting, four times pierced
the ranks of Ella ; his friends fell one by one around
him, and he at last was taken prisoner alive. — But
Ella knew not the rights of the unfortunate, nor the
duties of a conqueror. He obeyed the impulse of
barbarian resentment, and doomed his illustrious
prisoner to perish with lingering pain in a dungeon,
stung by venomous snakes. Ragnar contemplated
his fate without a groan of sorrow; his undaunted
soul breathed its last energies in prospects of revenge,
and cheered the agonizing hour by the hopes of his
superstition. If the Quida has preserved the true
expression of his feelings, the moment of his death
* One of the names by which the Sea Kings, or piratical
chieftains of the north, were distinguished. C

14
was signalized by a laugh of defiance."* — Here,
then, was a genuine theme for vengeance. The sons
of Lodbrog projected, and performed, a dreadful reta
liation. Inguar, distinguished by his commanding
genius, and Hubba, by invincible fortitude, were
chiefs well adapted for such an expedition. They
immediately assembled an immense army, the respec
tive divisions of which were commanded by eight
kings, and twenty jarls, the children, relations, and
former associates of Lodbrog. This force left the
"shores of the Baltic ; and, by accident, or design —
more probably the latter — it disembarked in East
Anglia, apparently in the autumn of 866, when
Edmund had reigned nearly ten years.
The Danish force now arrived was far greater than
any that had reached the country before. It was
therefore suffered to remain unmolested; and the
enemy passed a peaceful winter in their camp, col
lecting provisions, receiving reinforcements, uniting
their friends, and forming arrangements for future
concert. Presuming on the passive character of
Edmund, they demanded a supply of horses from
him, to render decisive the plan of conquest which
they had formed. With the most reprehensible folly,
he complied with the demand, and mounted the
greater part of their army. It is possible, also, that
jealousy may have had its share in this impolitic act;
for, at this time, there seems to have been no alliance,
* Turner's Anglo Saxons, vol. ii. (8vo. edition,) p. 117.

15
no bond of union, amongst the different states of the
island, but each was ready to rise in arms against its
neighbour, and mutual distrust universally prevailed.
These circumstances could not escape the penetrat
ing observations of the Danes : scarcely, therefore,
is it to be wondered at, that, in so fine and fertile a
country — a climate so much milder than their own —
they should meditate schemes of future conquest and
settlement. — For the present, however, retributive
justice seemed to demand a combination of all their
energies. — In the spring of 867, the Danes broke up
their camp, and marched northward. The city of
York was the first object of their attack. It sur
rendered on the 1st of March. Spreading devasta
tion throughout the country, they extended their
divisions as far as the Tyne, but without passing that
river. They returned to York; near which, on the
12th of April, they were suddenly and unexpectedly
attacked, by the combined forces of Ella and Osbert.
They fled into the city, and were pursued by the
English, with the eagerness of anticipated victory.
The advantage was not long on the side of the North
umbrians* who, regardless of order, had intermixed
themselves with the enemy in every direction. More
.cool and collected — more accustomed to irregular
warfare — the Danes turned upon them, and com
mitted dreadful slaughter. The guilty Ella, with
Osbert, and most of the army, perished. "The
sons of Ragnar inflicted a cruel and inhuman retalia
tion on Ella for their father's sufferings. They cut

16
the figure of an eagle on his back, divided his ribs to
tear out his lungs, and agonized his lacerated flesh
by the addition of the saline stimulant." — The great
work of vengeance thus accomplished, the Danes
began to establish themselves in different parts of
the conquered territory. Their power continuing to
increase, they, in 870, added nearly all the eastern
part of the island to their northern conquests. It
was then that the unfortunate Edmund, and the
country of East Anglia, were subjected to their
ravages. Having overrun Huntingdonshire and
Cambridgeshire, Inguar, separated from Hubba,
marched towards Thetford, where Edmund then
held his court. Edmund, apparently not expecting
to be attacked, had made no preparations for resis
tance; but, on the approach of Inguar, he hastily
collected his forces, and marched from Thetford, to
oppose his progress. The hostile armies met near
that city. A fierce and bloody battle ensued, and
lasted an entire day. Night came; but, desperate
as the contest had been, the victory was undecided.*
Edmund, actuated by that false principle of humani
ty, which, shrinking from a temporary sacrifice of
human life, avoids the present, only to encounter a
future evil, of more appalling and disastrous mag
nitude, is said to have fled, in the night, to Fram-
lingham Castle. The Danes pursued him thither,
* Blomefield, in his History of Norfolk, supposes, that the
tumult, which appear near Rushforth, Eustou, Barnham, and
Thetford, mark the spot where this great battle was fought

17
besieged the Castle, and took it. Edmund escaped,
and fled into a wood, near Hoxne, then called Heg-
lisdon, or Eglesdene — the Hill of Eagles. He had
only deferred his fate. Shortly after the battle,
Inguar had been joined by his brother, Hubba, with
10,000 fresh troops. He followed Edmund ; and,
when he drew near the place of his retreat, he dis
patched a messenger, with proposals to the unfor
tunate King. The Danish envoy, having demanded
a division of his treasures and kingdom, as the pur
chase of his life, retired to await an answer. Edmund
held a consultation with his secretary, Bishop Hum
bert, who, anxious to preserve the life of his sove
reign, earnestly recommended an immediate com
pliance with the imperious demand of the enemy.
The King remained long silent; but, recalling that
fortitude by which he had been deserted, he declared
that he should die with pleasure, if his death would
restore his beloved country to its former state of
peace and happiness. The Bishop urged, that the
country was already covered with slain, and without
means of defence^- and, therefore, that it would be
wise in the king, to avoid the threatened punishment
by submission. Edmund, however, persevered. He
had no fear of death; he had devoted his life to
Christ; and he would not then begin to serve two
masters. " I desire not," said he, "to survive my
dear subjects : deprived of those I valued, shall I
by flying tarnish that honour which has never been
disgraced ? Have I never borne the shame of aban-
C 5

18
daning my fellow soldiers, because I felt it noble
rather to die for my country, and shall I now be a
voluntary recreant, when the loss of those I loved
makes even the light of Heaven tedious to me! " —
Incensed by the rejection of their proposal, the
Danish chiefs marched directly to Hoxne, where
Edmund surrendered to their superior force, without
further contest. Still refusing to comply with the
conqueror's terms, he was bound with close fetters,
and severely scourged. He was then lashed to a
tree, and his naked flesh lacerated with whips, or,
according to Lydgate, beaten with short bats. The
cruel chiefs next wantonly fixed him as " a mark to
exercise the skill of their archers, and his body was
covered with arrows, like a porcupine with quills.
Inguar, still finding his mind invincible, ordered his
head to be struck off. ' And thus he died, Kyng,
Martyr, and Virgyne,' on the 20th Nov. A. D. 870,
in the 15th year of his reign, and the 29th of his
age." *
* There is a tradition, that Edmund, in his flight To Eglesdene^
now Hoxne, was discovered by the brilliant appearance of his
golden spurs, beneath the arch of an old bridge, by a newly-
married couple, returning home by moonlight, who betrayed
him to 'the Danes. Iu the midst of his sufferings, he poured
forth a dreadful curse upon every couple who should afterwards
pass over that bridge, in their way to, or from, the altar of
Hymen; and his last words have been most religiously attended
t0 — a remarkable instance of the length of time, through whl.li
tradition is transmitted to distant posterity. Such is the effect
of this curse, that, rather than pass the bridge, tlie newly-

}

19
On the death of this unfortunate prince, the Danes,
married couples, amongst the lower order, will proceed home
by a more wiuding and tedious journey. — A Suffolk poet has
thus neatly versified this traditionary tale- —
"The morn arose, and shot his ray,
Resplendent, from the clime of day,
Along the wide-extended heath,
Which night beheld a scene of death.
The tents of England's King gleam'd white,
Reflected from the dawning light.
Fast o'er the misty hills, afar,
The chief of Lochlin* urged the car,
And wak'd to strife th' adventurous war:
His standards, streaming to the sky,
Led forth his troops to victory.
With eagle glance the monarch stood,
And view'd the fatal field of blood,
Then urged his valiant few, to stand
The guardians of their native land ;
The spirits of the mighty dead
Leaned from the Heavens, o'er Conflict's bed,
Intent to hear th' expiring sigh,
The dying moan of Liberty-
Ivar approached, Death in his rear,
And on his van, Revenge and Fear.
Each fine advanced — the battle woke,
And reddened at each echoing stroke ;
Sword rang on 'helm, and spear on shield-,
Each chieftain doubtful held the field —
Oppression swayed the Danish heart,
But Freeuom nerved the English dart.
Long raged the thick fight's furious bray;
With blood bedewed — a fallen prey —
* Denmark.

20
we are told, in insult to his remains, cast his severed
Lay high-piled ranks of countless dead,
The Heavens their shroud— the heath their bed—
The bannered Raven, tow'ring, waved
O'er Edmund's ranks. — In vain they braved
The ruthless fury of their foe,
For Victory sat on Ivar's brow.
Distraction seised on Edmund's soul,
Aud o'er his senses phrenzy stole.
" The day's declining ray was past,
Aud evening's mist the sky o'ercast, —
Uncertain of the trackless space,
The vanquished Monarch urg'd his pace,
Till Eglesdene' s high rising fane
At distance cheer'd the gloomy plain; —
With weeds o'ergrown, an ancient pile
Of mossy bricks, and Runic style,
The Wavenej's sedgy confines bore,
A passage safe from either shore.
Urged by mistrust, the monarch sped,
And gladly sought its frieudly shade;
Securely, there he silent lay,
Till Luna rose with burnish'd ray,
And through the regions of the West
Raised high in air, her silver crest.
From Hymen's rites, a youthful pair
Were speeding, by the Evening Star —
They passed the bridge; — the moon's soft beam
Fell radiant on the ripling stream,
And to the wanderers on the shore
Betrayed the Spurs* that Edmund wore :
* "This fact is .authenticated, if oral tradition may be credited; cer
tain it is, that the bridge, under which Edmund sought protection,
tfetains to this day the name of ' Gold Bridge V

head and body into the thickest part of the woods
Suspicion seized each wondering mind,
And, faster than the rising wind,
They hastened to the long past gate, <
Eager to point their King's retreat.
" 111 fated Monarch ! once the dread
Of foreign foes — thy hopes are fied !
How chang'd thy fate ! the rising day
Beheld thee England's sceptre sway;
Its dying beams illume the breast
Of Edmund — now pale Sorrow's guest:
A suppliant at a conqueror's throne,
E'en ou the shores so late his own.
" Submissive, at a Victor's frown;
Usurper of thy country's crown;
Chaiu'd to the stake — by anguish torn,
Thy hurried breast must know the scorn
Of murderers, happy in thy moan,
Thy fortune lost, thy honours flown.
Not sorrow, torture, pangs unsung,
Can wrench confession from his tongue,*
But, gloryiug in his noble death,
He, calm, resigns his parting breath.
" But bark— the dying martyr speaks,
From his parch'd lips his last will breaks : —
' Cursed be the spot, where Edmund lay —
Dimmed in that spot be Luna's ray —
May execrations 'tend the pair,
Who o'er the fatal arch repair,
From Hymeu's sainted altars free,
May hate — unknown mortality —
Attend their lives; — domestic strife,
And all the ills of wedded life; —
• Allusive to his refusal to renounce the Christian faith.

22
of Eglesdene. On the departure of the enemy, the
East Anglians, prompted by affection for their late
sovereign, assembled, in considerable numbers, to
pay his corpse the last solemn duties. After a sor
rowful search, the body was discovered, conveyed
to Hoxne, and there interred; but the head could
not be found. Dividing themselves, therefore, into
small parties, the mourners searched every quarter of
the wood. Terrified by its thickness and obscurity,
some of them cried out to their companions —
"Where are you?" — -A voice answered, 'Here,
here, here ! ' Hastening to the place where the sound
proceeded, they found the long-sought head in a
thicket of thorns, guarded by a wolf — " an unkouth
thyng," says Lydgate, " and strange ageyn nature."
The people, almost overpowered with joy, took the
holy head, which its guardian quietly surrendered
to them, and carried it to the body. The friendly
wolf joined in the procession; and, after seeing the
May anguish seal their dying breath —
And fell remorse — woe worse than death.'
" He bleeds — the quivering arrow gnaws his breast;
He dies, — and agonizing sinks to rest.
Tradition tells the mournful tale,
And weeps at Sou row's bloody wail; —
Fell Superstition marks the place,
That sheltered Edmund's last distress;
And never, from that fatal day,
Have Hymen's votaries trod the way.
His spirit, by the pale moon's light,
Flits there, each sad revolving night."

23
precious treasure, which he had with so much care
protected, deposited with the body, whence it had
been severed, with doleful mourning, and without
shewing any fierceness, he returned into the woods.
This was about forty days after the matyrdom of
the Saint.
The remains of King Edmund appear to have
been buried in the earth, in an obscure wooden
chapel,* at Hoxne, where, it is said, some traditi
onary vestiges of his history are still to be found.
There they were suffered to lie, neglected, for
thirty-three years, till the dormant attention of the
people was aroused, by certain miracles, reported
to have been performed by the deceased king and
martyr. Then, " as a more suitable depository for
the honoured corpse, ' a large church was constructed
with wood in the town of Betrichesworth; ' and
Abbo says, when they expected, from the length of
time, to find the body putrid, to their astonishment
it appeared safe and as in health; with the head
united to it, only the mark of a red thread appearing
round the neck." f — About the year 903, the remains
* This chapel, says Blomefield, was,' in process of time, con
verted into a cell, or priory, inhabited by seven or eight monks,
governed by a Prior, nominated and removable by the Prior
of Norwich, aud called the Cell and Chapel of the blessed
St. Edmund, King and Martyr. — A. D. 1226, Thomas de
Blumville, Bishop of Norwich, confirmed all, revenues to God
and the Chapel of St. Edmund at Hoxne. At the dissolution,
this Cell had revenues worth about £i0 per annum.
f Yates's Bury.

24
of Edmund were removed from thence, to Bedericks-
worth, or Bury. The circumstances of the sacred
body having been found, perfect and uncorrupted,
with the head reunited to it, was long a favorite
miracle with the monastic writers. A female de
votee, named Oswyna, stood forward as a witness of
the incorruption; avering that she had long secluded
herself, and lived near the town; and that, for se
veral preceding years, she had annually cut the hair,
and pared the nails, of the saint, preserving the
sacred relics with religious care. "A certain noble
man, named Leofstanus, presuming to doubt con
cerning the incorruption of the martyr's body,
arrogantly ordered the tomb to be opened, that he
might have ocular demonstration of this remarkable
fact: his request was complied with, and 'he saw
the body of the saint uncorrupted; but, being im
mediately seized by a demon, he miserably expired.'
This story, no doubt, repressed that curiosity which
might otherwise have explored too minutely the
clerical arcana. An ecclesiastic, however, was
permitted, without incurring this awful fate, to have
the satisfaction of seeing for himself, and for others
also; the veracity of Bishop, Theodored is adduced
as a most unequivocal testimony to authenticate the
fact. ' Having performed a devotional fast for three
days, he opened the coffin, and found the body per
fect; washed it, arrayed it in hew vestments; and
again replaced it in its narrow dwelling'."*
* Yates's Bury.

To
Some ecclesiastics having devoted themselves to
the monastic life, under the protection of the royal
Saint and Martyr, they were incorporated into a
college of priests about the year 925. From this
period may be dated the advancement and increasing
consequence of the town of Bury. King Athelstan,
besides other donations, presented to the church of
St. Edmund, a copy of the Evangelists, which was
regarded as a gift of such value in those days, that
he offered it upon the altar " for the benefit of his
soul." Edmund, son of Edward the Elder, con
ferred upon the monks a jurisdiction over the whole
town, and one mile round it. This, with other
privileges, he confirmed by a royal grant, or charter,
in the year 945; an example which was liberally
imitated by succeeding sovereigns, and other persons
of distinction; and thus many considerable manors
in the neighbourhood were soon added to the pos
sessions of the monastery. About the middle of
the tenth century, commenced the disputes between
the secular clergy and monks, or regulars, which
will be noticed more explicitly in a subsequent part
of this volume, relating to the abbey. The result
was, that the monks dispossessed the established
clergy of their most valuable establishments, gained
over the bishop of the diocese, and, in the year
990, procured the appointment of Ailwin, one of
their number, to be the guardian of the body of the
Saint. Sweyn, King of Denmark, who had committed
D

26
numerous ravages on the island, is recorded, though
somewhat indistinctly, to have burnt and plundered
Bury in the year 1010. Having obtained undisputed
possession of this part of the country, he, four
years afterwards, levied a general and heavy con
tribution on his new subjects. It is probable that
the alledged devastation of Bury did not take place
till this period; for we are told that, being then
famous for its church and houses, Sweyn demanded
a large sum for their preservation; and, because the
monks and the people refused to comply with his
demand, he, in his fury, set fire to, and consumed,
the whole of the buildings. The death of Sweyn,
which took place at Gainsborough, in the succeeding
year, is involved in obscurity; and the monks have
thought proper to regard it as miraculous. " The
monks," observes Mr. Yates, "who compiled the
history of this house, [Bury], are willing to per
suade us, that Ailwin was admonished in a dream
by St. Edmund, to supplicate the conqueror for a
melioration of the public calamities; and to warn
him, that the inhabitants of these parts were St.
Edmund's people, and that he would punish a con
tinuance of their oppression by an infliction of
divine vengeance. — Lydgate says, ' the people with
prayers and tears entreat St. Edmund to defend his
franchise; and Ayllewyn receives orders from St.
Edmund to go to Sweyn.' — This remonstrance pro
duced no relief; and the death of Sweign happening
soon after, it was reported that St. Edmund had

27
punished the tyrant's neglect of his admonitions.
That on the evening of the purification ofthe Blessed
Mary, as Sweign was surrounded by his nobles and
companions, he suddenly exclaimed, ' I am struck
by St. Edmund! ' though no one saw the hand that
inflicted the wound. He languished till the morning,
and then expired in miserable torments." This ac
count of Sweyn's death was probably, as Batteley
contends, a mere monkish invention. However, it
proved highly advantageous to the abbey; as the
people voluntarily imposed upon themselves a tax-
of four-pence for every carucate of land in the
diocese, which they ottered to the honour of the
Saint and Martyr, as an acknowledgement of their
gratitude and devotion.
Canute, the son and successor of Sweyn, is said
to have been so terrified by the vengeance of
Edmund, who, not satisfied with the forfeit of his
father's life, appeared to him in a vision, that he
was induced to take the monastery under his special
protection. To pacify the angry saint, he rebuilt
his church, and raised the town to a height of
splendour and consequence before unknown. Under
the sanction of this prince, Ailwin, who was con
secrated Bishop of Hulm in 1020, ejected the secular
clergy from the establishment, and supplied their
places with twelve Benedictine monks. At the
same time he exempted the monastery, and all
within its demesne, from episcopal authority, which
was to be exercised by the Abbot only; to fix the

28
boundary of whose jurisdiction, four crosses were
erected. It was about the year 1021, that Ailwin
laid the foundation of the new church, the expenses
of which were defrayed by the voluntary tax above
mentioned, and by the contributions of the piously
disposed. Canute confirmed, by royal charter, all
former grants and privileges to the Abbot and con
vent, and conferred several new ones ; of which the
most important was the right of reserving for their
own use that proportion of the tax called Dane-geld,
levied upon the inhabitants of the town. These gifts
were settled upon the Abbey, with a fearful curse
on such as should molest the monks in their pos
sessions; and the charter signed by the King,
Queen, and Archbishops, was attested by thirty-
two nobles, prelates, and abbots. The church was
consecrated on St. Luke's day, A. D. 1032, by
Agelnothus, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour
of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and St. Edmund. The
body of the royal Martyr was deposited in a splendid .
shrine, enriched with jewels and other costly
ornaments; and Canute himself, assisting at the
devout ceremony, offered his crown at the tomb of
the Saint. As in the old church, burnt by Sweyn,
several of the East Anglian kings, amongst whom
were Sigbercht, Anna, and his son Firminus, with
many other great men, were interred, so numbers
of the highest rank and quality chose to be buried
in the new structure.
Amongst the succeeding monarchs who augmented

29
the fame, the importance, and the wealth of the
Abbey of Bury, Edward the confessor makes a
conspicuous figure in its history. Amongst other
privileges, he granted to Abbot Baldwyn the liberty
of coinage; this was confirmed by William the
Conqueror; King'Stephen, in 1151, gave authority
for the establishment of two additional mints in
Bury; according to Stow, there was one in the
town in King John's time ; Edward I. and II. also
had mints at Bury; and some of their pennies,
coined there, are still to be found in the cabinets of
antiquaries. Edward the confessor frequently honoured the
town of Bury with his presence ; and, so great was
his veneration for the royal Saint and Martyr, that
he accustomed himself to perform the last mile of
his journey on foot, as a common pilgrim; giving,
on his approach to the holy place, that testimony of
his humility and devotion.
In the year 1132, Henry the First, on his return
to England, after his interview at Chartres with
Pope Innocent III, was overtaken by a violent
tempest. As soon as he had landed, he repaired to
Bury, to perform his devotions at the shrine of
St. Edmund. Soon after the treaty which had been
concluded by King Stephen, with Henry, the sen
of Maud, by which the latter was acknowledged
successor to the throne, Stephen's son, Eustace,
came to Bury, and demanded of the Abbot and
Monastery considerable supplies of money, stores,
D 5

30
&c. On the refusal of the Abbot, the prince
ordered the granaries of the Abbey to be plundered,
and many of the farms belonging to it to be ravaged
and burned. In the midst of these proceedings, he
was seized by a fever, and he expired in the town
on the festival of St. Lawrence, 1153, in the
eighteenth year of his age.
During the contest in which Henry the Second
was engaged with his son, to whom he had assigned
one moiety of his kingdom, a considerable army
was assembled at Bury, to support the cause of the
sovereign; and, at Fornham St. Genovieve, on the
27th of October, 1173, a bloody engagement took
place, and terminated in the total defeat of the rebels.
In this engagement the sacred standard of St.
Edmund was borne before the royal army, which
afterwards made Bury its head quarters.
It was in the reign of Henry the Second, (1179)
that the Jews, who had come into England with
WilUam the Conqueror, and who were very
numerous in this part of the country, are recorded
to have crucified a boy, of the name of Robert, in
this town, in derision of Christ's Crucifixion.* They
* The enmity of the English people against the Jews was
notorious; and, amongst many other imputations against them,
that of crucifying Christian children is the best known. Against
this, and other alledged violations of the laws of the land, the
King was not very ready to interfere to protect them, because,
on conviction, the property of the Jews was forfeited to him.
The most notable instance of this asserted crime was the
crucifixion of Hugb, a child, at Lincoln. According to Matthew

31
had a synagogue there, which is yet standing, and
is justly regarded as one of the most interesting
antiquities of the place. It has been used for many
years as the common Bridewell. — For the offence
just mentioned, and others of a similar nature
alledged to have been committed in different parts of
the kingdom, the Jews were banished. It is pro
bable, however, that in some parts they found means
to make their peace, as, about ten years afterwards ,
they had again become so odious to the nation, that
the people arose, almost with one accord, to destroy
them. Many of those who inhabited Bury were
surprised, and put to death; and such as escaped,
by the assistance of the Abbot Sampson, were ex
pelled from the town, and never permitted to
return. Previously to his departure for the Holy Land,
Paris, the child was fatteued for ten days with white bread and
milk, in a secret chamber; and almost all the Jews in England
were invited to the crucifixion : the body was then buried, but,
the earth, in abhorrence of the fact, would uot retain it in her
bowels, but cast it up again ; it was at last thrown into a well,
and there found by the child's mother, and,, at her prosecution,
several Jews were hanged, whose goods were of course sold
ad opus regis. — Respecting the truth of a statement, attributing
to men the commission of so monstrous a crime — a crime at
the very idea of which humanity must revolt — it is now im
possible to speak ; but the King's commission for the trial of the
fact is extant, as well as his warrant to the Sheriffs of London
to sell the houses of the Jews who had been convicted, (or at
least hanged for it), and to enquire what had become of the
rest of their chattels.

32
Richard the First paid a devotional visit to the Abbey
and shrine of St. Edmund; and, on his return, he
offered up the rich standard of Isaac, King of
Cyprus, at the shrine.
Equally with Runnemede, Bury is entitled to
claim the honour of that celebrated charter by which
the rights and liberties of England are secured.
The foundation of Magna Charta is known to have
been a charter of Henry the First, which had fallen
into oblivion as early as the time of King John.
A copy of it having fallen into the hands of Stephen
Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, was by him
communicated to the principal nobles of the king
dom, a meeting of whom was convened at Bury to
deliberate on the subject. On this occasion, each
of the persons present went to the high altar of the
church of St. Edmund, in which the assembly was
held, and there swore, that if the King should re
fuse to abolish the arbitrary Norman laws, and
restore those enacted by Edward the Confessor,
they would make war upon him until he should com
ply. At first the King refused; but, impelled by
necessity, he, on his return from Poictou, in the
year 1214, met his barons at Bury, and, with the
utmost solemnity, confirmed this celebrated in
strument; binding himself, by a public oath, to
regulate his administration by the grand principles
on which it was founded.
Henry the Third, in whose reign may be traced
the first outline of the House of Commons, paid

33
several visits to Bury. In the year 1272, he held a
parliament there; after which, agreeably to the
advice of that body, he proceeded to Norwich, to
punish the authors of a violent insurrection which
had broken out against the prior and monks of that
city. Having accomplished the object of his journey,
he returned to Bury, on his way to London, that
he might offer his devotions at the shrine of St.
Edmund. At Bury, however, he was seized with
the disorder which, in the month of November fol
lowing, carried him to his grave.
Edward the First, in the year 1296, held a par
liament at Bury, for the purpose of demanding an
aid of the clergy and people. The principal citizens
and burgesses granted him an eighth, and the lower
classes a twelfth, of their goods; but the clergy,
sanctioned by a decree of the Pope, refused to con
tribute to the wants of the crown. As they persisted
in their refusal, the King thought proper to seize
the whole revenues of the Church ; in consequence
of which, the borough of Bury, the goods of the
Abbot and Monastery, and a,ll their manors, were
confiscated. After a lapse, however, of more than
two years, the clergy, who had been subjected to
dreadful sufferings, redeemed their property with
a subsidy of their goods and rents ; the amount of
which is variously stated, at a fifteenth, a tenth,
and a fifth.
In the reign of Edward the Second, his Queen,
Isabella, dissatisfied with the conduct of the

34
Spencers, who, at that time, controuled the councils
of the King, procured the assistance of the prince
of Hainault, and landed with a force of 2,700 men
at Orwell Haven, in Suffolk. Thence she marched
to Bury, where she remained some time to refresh
her troops and collect her adherents. In the sequel,
the king was deposed, and the prince his son placed
upon the throne.
Edward the Third, and Richard the Second,
respectively offered their vows at the shrine of
the Saint and Martyr.
In the year 1381, soon after the Kentish insur
rection, headed by Wat Tyler, the people of Suffolk
and Norfolk rose in great numbers, and, under the
conduct of Jack Straw, committed the most alarming
depredatious. Proceeding in a body of not less
than 50,000 men to Cavendish, they plundered and
hurned the house of Sir John de Cavendish, the
Lord Chief Justice, whom they seized and carried
to Bury, where they struck offhis head, and placed
it on the pillory. The Abbey was their next object
of attack. Sir John Cambridge, the Abbot, fled, but
was overtaken, and executed near Mildenhall. His
head, and Sir John Lakenhythe's, the keeper of
the barony, were afterwards placed on the pillory
near that of the Lord Chief Justice. The mob then
plundered the Abbey of an immense quantity of
jewels, defaced the conventual buildings, and com
pelled the monks to grant new privileges to the
townsmen. Henry Spencer, however, the martial

S5
Bishop of Norwich, soon afterwards met them at
Barton Mills, when, with a very inferior force, he
dispersed them and drove them to their homes.
It does not appear that either Henry the Fourth,
or Henry the Fifth, visited Bury; but Henry the
Sixth celebrated Christmas there, in the year 1433,
and remained in the Abbey till the St. George's day
following. — In 1446, a parliament was convened at
Bury, under the influence of the Queen, and of
Cardinal de Beaufort, the inveterate enemy of
Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, the king's uncle,
whose deserved popularity, as Regent of England,
had rendered him obnoxious to those whose motives
and conduct were less pure. It is believed that the
real object for assembling this parliament, at which
the King presided in person, was to afford an oppor
tunity for the destruction of the Duke. On the
second day of the sessions he was arrested, under
the alledged suspicion of having committed sundry
crimes and misdemeanours; all his servants were
removed, and his retinue were sent to different
prisons. Preparations were made for bringing him
to a public trial; but it is considered that his enemies,
dreading the triumph of his innocence and virtue,
had recourse to a more certain method of dispatching
him than by the doubtful result of an impeachment.
On the morning after his apprehension, " the good
Duke," as he was emphatically called, was found
lifeless in his bed. Apoplexy was declared to have
been the cause of his death; but, by the people a,t

36
large, that event was ascribed to violence. It is
related by Pitts, that he was smothered by bolsters;
and, according to tradition, his murder was per
petrated in an apartment of St. Saviour's Hospital,
which was then an appendage to the Abbey, by
William de la Pole, Marquis of Suffolk. His death,
however it happened, occurred on the 23d or 24th
of February. The Duke's body was conveyed to
St. Alban's Abbey, in Hertfordshire, and there
interred.* * A magnificent monument to the memory of the Duke was
erected in the Abbey church of St. Alban's, in the time of Abbot
Whethamsted, ' the Wykeham of his time.' The body of the
Duke was accidentally discovered in the vault beneath, in the
year 1703 ; and was then lying in pickle, in a leaden coffin, in
closed by another of wood. Since that period, the skeleton has
been rudely handled, bone after bone having been purloined by
tbe curious, till very few remain. Near the Duke's monument,
is a latin inscription to his memory, which, accordmg to Sand-
ford, in his Geuealogical History, was written about 60 years
before histime, by Dr. Westermann, parson of Sandbridge and
Busbey. It is iu English, as follows : —
"sacred to the pious memory of an excellent man.
"Interr'd within this consecrated ground,
Lies he, whom Henry his protector found,
Good Humphrey, Glo'ster's Duke, who well could spy,
Fraud couched within the bliud impostor's eye ; *
His country's light, the state's rever'd support,
Who peace, and rising learning deigned to court;
Whence his rich library, at Oxford placed,
Her ample schools with sacred influence grac'd,
* Alluding to a pretended miraculous case of a blind man, detected
bv the Duke.

37
Henry the Sixth held another Parliament at Bury,
in the year 1448 ; from which time, until the year
1486, when the town was honoured with the presence
of Henry the Seventh, in his progress through
Norfolk and Suffolk, we do not hear of any further
royal visitations.
Bury was the scene of an extraordinary spectacle
in the year 1526. An alarming insurrection of the
people of Lavenham, Hadleigh, Sudbury, and the
adjacent country, having taken place, the Dukes of
Suffolk and Norfolk, with a military force, met in
that town for its suppression. Many of the ring
leaders of the mob were seized, and brought before
those noblemen, in their shirts, and with halters
about their necks, when, by royal clemency, their
lives were spared.
In the reign of Henry the Eighth, the Princess
Mar3r, sister of that sovereign, who was first mar
ried to Louis XII. of France, and afterwards to
the gallant and accomplished Charles Brandon,
Duke of Suffolk, was, with her second husband, a
great benefactor of the town and monastery of Bury.
Yet fell beneath an envious woman's wile,
Both to herself, her king and kingdom vile;
Who scarce allow'd his bones this spot of land :
Yet, 'spite of envy, shall his glory stand."
The late Horace Lord Walpole considered himself to be in
possession of the portraits of Henry the Sixth, and Humphiey
Duke of Gloucester, purchased at the library of the late John,
Ives, Esq. jun. of Yarmouth, F. R. S. F. S. A. and Suffolk
Herald extraordinary, in March, 1777.
E

38
Every year, " during the celebration of the great
fair at Bury, a splendid tent or pavilion was erected
in the great court ofthe abbey, for the accommoda
tion of Mary Queen of France, in which she received
the compliments of the nobility and gentry, who re
sorted to Bury to join in the amusements and enter
tainments that the town, at the time of the fair, pe
culiarly afforded."*
Bury was the rendezvous of the Duke of North
umberland's troops, when, upon the death of
Edward the Sixth, in 1553, Lady Jane Grey was
declared to be the heir to the crown. — During the
succeeding reign of the fanatical and sanguinary
Mary, this town, with various other parts of the
kingdom, was polluted by many horrible scenes.
No fewer than twelve individuals were burnt there,
as heretics, within three years.
Queen Elizabeth, in her memorable progress
through Suffolk and Norfolk, in the year 1578, ar
rived at Bury on the 7th of August, as appears by
the register of St. James's parish in that town.f TJn-
* Yates's Bury.
f Although there seems to have been but slight notice
given of her majesty's intentions, she was received and en
tertained upon her journey in the most splendid and magnificent
manner. "The truth is (saith one that wrote the whole enter
tainment) that albeit they. had but small warning certainly to
build upon, of the Queen's Majesty into both shires, the gen
tlemen had made such ready provisions, that all the velvets and
silks that might be laid hands on, and bought for money, were soon
converted into such garments and suits of robes, that the show

39
fortunately for the credit of this illustrious Queen,
thereof might have beautified the greatest triumph that was in
England these many years. For (as it was said) there were 200
young gentlemen clad all in white velvet, and 300 of the graver
sort, apparelled all in black velvet coats, and fair chains, all
ready at one instant and place; with 1,500 serving men, on
horseback, well and bravely mounted in good order, ready to
receive the Queen's highness into Suffolk: which surely was a
comely troop, and a noble sight to behold ; and all these waited
on the Sheriff, Sir William Spring, during her Majesty's abode
in those parts, and to the very confines of Suffolk. But before
her Highness passed to Norfolk, there was in Suffolk, such
sumptuous feastings and banquets as seldom in any part of the
world have been seen before. The Master of the Rolls, Sir
William Cordell, was one of the first that begun this great feast
ing, and did light such a candle to the rest of the shire, that
many were glad bountifully aud frankly to follow the same ex
ample, with such charges and costs, as the whole train were in
some sort pleased with. And near Bury, Sir William Drury, for
his part, at his bouse, at Rougham, made the Queen's Highness
a costly and delicate dinner.* And Sir Robert Germiue, or
Jermyn, of Rushbrook, feasted the French Ambassadors, two
several times, with which charges and courtesy, they stood mar
vellously contented. The Sheriff, Sir William Spring, Sir Tho
mas Kidson, of Hengrave, Sir Arthur Heigham, and divers
others of worship, kept great houses, and sundry other at the
Queen's coming, or return, solemnly feasted her Highness, yea,
and defrayed tbe whole charges for a day or two ; presented
gifts, made such triumphs and devices, as indeed was most
* Her majesty was also splendidly entertained at Lawshall, arid at
Hawsted. " She rode in the morning from Sir William Cordell's at
Melford, and dined with one of the Drarys at Lawshall Hall, about
five miles from Hawsted. In the evening she came to Hawsted ; her
apartments there, ever afterwards, retaining her name." — Yates's Bury.

40
her reign was not free from the stain of blood shed
for conscience' sake. In 1583, Elias Thacker, a tay-
lor, was hanged in this town, and John Coping, a
shoemaker, for spreading and maintaining certain
tenets, penned by Robert Brown (father of the sect
called Brownists) against the -book of common
prayer, then established in the realm.
In the reign of James the First, Bury was visited
by a most destructive calamity, which is thus re
corded by Stow:— "In the year 1608, April 11,
being Monday, the quarter sessions was held at
St. Edmund's Bury, and by negligence, an out malt-
house was set on fire, from whence, in a most
strange and sudden manner, through winds, the
fire came to the farthest side ofthe town, and, as it
went, left some streets and houses safe and untouch
ed. The flame flew clean over many houses, and
did great spoil to many fair buildings, farthest off;
and ceased not till it had consumed one hundred and
sixty dwelling houses, besides others; and, in da
mage of wares and houshold stuff, to the full value
of sixty thousand pounds." — Like the Phoenix, Bury
noble to behold, and very thankfully accepted."*— Highly
gratified with her entertainment, in Suffolk, her Majesty was
pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon the following
gentlemen : — George Colt, Philip Parker, Robert Jermyn, Wil
liam Spring, Thomas Barnardiston, Thomas Kidson, and Ar
thur Higham ; in order "that they should all their life-time
after, have a greater regard to God and their Prince."f
* Blomefield's Norfolk.
t Ibid.

41
arose more beautiful from its ashes. King James,
by whom it had previously been incorporated, and
invested with many gifts and privileges, contributed
large quantities of timber towards the rebuilding.
In the year 1636, the plague raged at Bury witli
great violence, and the town was so depopulated by
desertion and disease, that the grass grew in the
streets. Some hundreds of families, lying sick at
one time, were maintained at the public charge of
£200 a week ; previously to which, the sum of £2,000
had been disbursed for the relief of the afflicted.*
Of the stupidly ignorant and persecuting spirit
displayed inthe seventh century, against unfortunate
creatures who laboured under the imputation of
witchcraft, Bury witnessed some deplorable in
stances. " In 1644, one Matthew Hopkins, of Man-
ningtree, in Essex, who styled himself Witch-finder
general, and had twenty shillings allowed him for
every town he visited, was with some others com
missioned by parliament in 1644, and the two follow
ing years, to perform a circuit for the discovery of
witches. By virtue of this commission, they went
from place to place, through many parts of Essex,
Suffolk, Norfolk, and Huntingdonshire, and caused
sixteen persons to be hanged at Yarmouth, forty at
Bury, and others in different parts of the country,
to the amount of sixty persons." " Among the vic-
* According to the statement of Mr. Nicholls, in his History
of Leicestershire, 1,000 persons died cf the plague, at Bury, in
ihe year \257.
E5

42
tims, sacrificed by this wretch, and his associates,
were Mr. Lawes, an innocent, aged clergyman, of
Brandeston, a cooper and his wife, and fifteen other
women, who were all condemned and executed at one
time at Bury."*— On the 17th of March, 1664, two
poor widows were tried before Sir Matthew Hale,
convicted, and sentenced to death. Sir Matthew,
not satisfied with the evidence, declined summing it
up, and left it to the jury, with a prayer to God to
direct their hearts in so important an affair. This
extraordinary trial was published, as an appeal to
the world, by Sir Matthew Hale ; notwithstanding
which, the lives of the women were sacrificed.!
* Hopkins, the wicked agent of a blind and fanatical govern
ment, employed many arts to extort confession from suspected
persons, and when these failed, he had recourse to swimming
them, which was done by tying their thumbs and toes together,
aud then throwing them into the water. If they floated, they
were guilty of the crime of witchcraft, but their sinkmg was a
proof of their innocence. This method he pursued, till some
gentlemen, indignant at his barbarity, tied his own thumbs and
toes, as he had been accustomed to tie those of other persons,
and when put into the water, he himself swam, as many had
done before him.
t It is stated by Sir Matthew Hale, that, at one Suffolk As
sizes, a few years before the Restoration, thirteen persons were
executed under convictions upon the statutes relating to gypsies.

43

THE ABBEY, CHURCHES, &c.

Having succinctly sketched, in the preceding
pages, the leading events in the history of Bury St.
Edmund's, we now proceed to the detail of such
particulars as more immediately relate to the Abbey,
Churches, &c. in connection with the town.
" The monastery of St. Edmund's Bury," observes
Mr. Yates, "has been generally supposed to have
exceeded, in magnificent buildings, splendid deco
rations, important privileges, valuable immunities,
and ample endowments, all other ecclesiastical and
monastic establishments in England, Glastonbury
alone excepted." By Leland, who lived when this
abbey was in its full prosperity, and may be sup
posed to have seen it in its greatest splendour,
it is thus described: — "The sun hath not shone
on a town more delightfully situated on a gradual
and easy descent, with a small river flowing on
the eastern part, or a monastery more illustrious,
whether we consider its wealth, its extent, or
its incomparable magnificence : you might indeed
say that the monastery itself is a town; so

44
many gates there are, some of them of brass; so
many towers; and a church, than which none can
be more magnificent, and subservient to which are
three others also splendidly adorned with admirable
workmanship, and standing in one and the same
churchyard. The rivulet mentioned above, with an
arched bridge thrown over it, glides througli the
bounds of the monastery."
It has been seen, that a church and monastery
were founded by King Sigbercht, at least as early
as the year 638. The buildings, as were probably
all ecclesiastical structures at that period, were of
wood. The church was rebuilt, upon a larger scale,
in the year 903, when it became the receptacle of
St. Edmund's body. The ecclesiastics, who devoted
themselves to the monastic life, at that time, under
the protection of the royal Saint and Martyr, in
creased in number, and were incorporated into a.
college of priests about the year 925. The celebrity
of the shrine of St. Edmund, through whose agency
many extraordinary miracles were declared to have
been performed, procured numerous gifts and ob
lations to the establishment. King Athelstan ap
pears to have been its first great royal benefactor.
Edmund, the son of Edward the Elder, was, by
his example, the means of eminently increasing its
wealth and consideration. Amongst the numerous
privileges, which he confirmed by a royal grant or
charter, in the year 945, was that of a jurisdiction
over the whole town, and one mile round it. Soon

45
afterwards appear to have commenced the disputes,
to which we have alluded in a preceding page, be
tween the seculars or established clergy ofthe coun
try, and the monks or regulars. The monks, by an
affectation of superior sanctity, achieved a triumph ;
and, in the year 990, they procured the appointment
of Ailwin, one of their number, to be the guardian
of the body of St. Edmund, with which the secular
priests were declared to be unworthy of being in
trusted, " on account of their insolence and irre
gularity." — Previously to the destruction of Bury,
by Swein, in the early part of the eleventh century,
Ailwin, apprehensive that his sacred charge might
be subjected to injury and insult from the Danes,
conveyed it to London, where it remained three
years. The Bishop of London, we are told, ob
serving the rich offerings which were made at the
shrine of the Saint, conceived a strong desire to
take it into his own custody. He accordingly went,
with three assistants, to remove it privately from
the little church of St. Gregory, in which it had
been placed; but the shrine of the Saint remained
as fast " as a great hill of stone," and his body as
immoveable "as a mountain," till Ailwin arrived,
when the Martyr quietly suffered his remains to be
conveyed back to Bury.
Ailwin, who in the year 1020 was consecrated
Bishop of Hulm, under Canute, the son and succes
sor of Swein, ejected the secular clergy from their
establishment at Bury, and supplied their places

46
with twelve Benedictine monks from the monastery
at Hulm. He exempted the abbey, and all within
it, from episcopal authority ; and, as has been seen,
laid the foundation of a magnificent church, Avhich
was consecrated in the year 1032.
To Edward the Confessor the conventual establish
ment was indebted for a great accession of wealth
ind power. In the first year of his reign, he came
to Bury on St. Edmund's day; and, on the follow
ing morning, seeing the young monks eating barley
bread, he enquired of the abbot why those young
men of his kinsman, as he called St. Edmund, were
not better fed. " Because," replied the abbot," our
possessions are too weak to maintain them with
stronger food." — " Ask what you will," said the
King, " and I will give it to you, that they may be
better provided for, and better enabled to perform
the service of God." The result of this conference
was, that the King granted to the. establishment the
town of Mildenhall, with its produce and inhabi
tants, the royalties of eight hundreds, with the half
hundred of Thingoe, and also the royalties of all
the villages situated in those eight hundreds and a
half, which it had before possessed. This monarch
granted likewise the privilege of coining, at a mint
founded within the precincts of the abbey.
The two first churches Avere of wood, and the third
is supposed to have been chiefly, if not entirely, of
that material. From their increased riches and con
sequence, however, the monks now resolved to pnv

47
vide a more magnificent receptacle for the body of
their Saint. The church built by Canute was de
molished, and another was erected of hewn stone,
under the auspices of Abbot Baldwyn, who governed
the abbey from the year 1065 to 1097. Of this
abbot, and the structure which arose under his
superintendence, Lydgate, the monk of Bury, thus
speaks : —
To Seynt Edward he was Phescciou
To many sickness he did remedye ;
In nyne and twentye wynters ye may seen
A newe cherche he dyee edefye
Ston brought from Kane out of Normandye
By the Se, and set up on the Strande,
At Ratlysdene, and carried forth be lande.
About twelve years were occupied in the building
of this church, which was constructed chiefly of
calcareous stone, brought by the permission of
William the Conqueror, free of expense, from the
quarries of Barnack, in Northamptonshire. It is
supposed that the stone, brought from Caen, in Nor
mandy, alluded to by Lydgate, was marble, origin
ally from Italy, employed in the ornamental parts
of the building. — This cfturch, which existed till
the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, was
in a state of sufficient forAvardness to receive the
sacred remains in the year 1095. It was 505 feet
in length, the transept 212, and the west front 240.
At the west end of the building Avere two large, side
chapels, St. Faith's, and St. Catherine's; one on

48
the north-west, and the other on the south-west;
and, at each end, was an octagon tower, extending
30 feet each way. The shrine of the Saint was pre
served in a semicircular chapel at the east end. On
the north side of the choir was the chapel of St.
Mary, 80 feet long, and 42 broad. The chapel of
St. Mary in Cryptis, supported by 24 pillars, was
100 feet in length, and 80 in breadth. Altogether,
the church contained 12 chapels. The height ofthe
building is unknown. Besides the dome, there was
a lofty tower over the western aisle. Of this church,
the grandeur of which is said to have been equal,
in some respects, to that of St. Peter's at Rome, a
curious model was to be seen, about scA'enty years
ago, at Mr. Tillot's, on the Angel Hill. The model
Avas 10 feet long, 5 broad, and a proportionate height;
and it had 820 windows, and 300 niches, adorned
with statues, and other Gothic sculpture. The
shrine was ornamented with images and crowns, and
gilt, as in its original state. The twelve chapels
Avere also represented.
The remains of the west end of the conventual
church, which constitute one of the boundaries of
the church yard, in its present state, exhibit a very
remarkable appearance. One of the octagon towers,
which has been mentioned, is still standing, and has
been converted into a stable. Three arches, once
the entrances to the three aisles, have been filled up
with modern brickwork, and converted into neat
houses; whilst the intermediate, rugged, portions

KEif-? g;: i j i'iit'1 f fHMli. fill

ABBEY GATE, BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

49
of the original massive wall, which is supposed to
have been faced with marble, have braved the ravages
of time for nearly 300 years.
There appear to have been four grand gates of en
trance to the abbey ; and its lofty embattled walls en
closed, within a vast circumference, the body ofthe
monastery, the abbot's palace, court yard, garden,
offices, &c. the chapter house, toAvers, cloisters,
ambulatories, infirmaries, and offices of all kinds;
the splendid monasterial church, extensive cemetery,
three smaller churches, and several chapels. Be
yond the circuit of the walls were many hospitals,
chapels, and other religious edifices, under the pa
tronage and protection of the monks, and depending
upon them for support.
The western gate, which formed the grand en
trance to the abbey, is the only relic that attests
the splendour of this truly magnificent establishment.
Of this venerable structure, the materials and work
manship were so excellent, that, without the pro
tection of a roof, and without the aid of repairs, it
is yet in a state of preservation almost perfect. —
The original entrance to the abbey having been de
stroyed, in a violent assault, made in the year 1327,
by the inhabitants of the town, the present gate,
which opened into the great court yard, in front of
the abbot's palace, was erected upon a plan com
bining utility with ornament, and elegance with de
fence. The architecture is of the best period of
that style which is generally termed gothic. The
r

50
composition is judicious and harmonious; in the
western front, richness of design predominates ; in
the eastern, an elegant simplicity. The embellish
ments, arranged with taste, and executed with sharp
ness and precision, are much more numerous than
those which appear in earlier specimens. They are
not, however, in such extravagant profusion, asthe
later and more florid style which prevailed in the
reigns of Henry VI. and VII. presented.
The height of this gate is about 62 feet, its length
50, and its breadth 41. The western front is di
vided into two horizontal compartments, by an ele
gant embattled ornamented band, and perpendicu
larly into three compartments, a centre, and two
turriated projecting wings. The whole is superhly
ornamented with carved devices and niches for
statues ; the centre containing five single and six
double niches, with three small niches in the tympan
of the undulated pediment; and in each of the wings
are three large single niches. The heads, or groined
work, forming the canopies of these niches, are
elegant, and the pediments richly adorned with crock
ets and finials. The centre, and the two extreme,
niches of the centre compartment, are also further
enriched by the pilasters' terminating in well-wrought
pinnacles. The spandirls of the arch are orna
mented with two bosses or paterae ; and over them,
near the top of the building, are two others. The
pillars of the gate-way are composed of clustered
cylinders ; the capitals are simple, chiefly with the

51
gothic wreath. The counter arch of the entrance is
surmounted by an undulated arch, or pediment,
springing from the external capitals, and enriched
with crockets similar to those of the niches, the
finial of which reaches to the band inthe centre of
the building. In the tympan of this pediment is the
above-mentioned compartment of three small niches.
— In the wall and arch is a grdve six inches wide, for
the reception of the portcullis. In the north-west
and south-Avest angles were circular stair-cases. By
that at the south-west, which is still remaining,
though not entire, it is possible, with some care
yet, to ascend to the platform and parapet. The
terre-plaine of the Avail constitutes a terrace, or plat
form, which affords a passage round the top of the
building. There are five embrasures in each end ;
and in each side seven. Over each of the stair-cases
Avas formerly an octagon tower, fourteen feet high.
One of these having been blown down, at the
commencement of the last century, the other was
soon after taken down. Some parts of the bat
tlements, at the north-west and south-west angles,
were broken off, very probably when the towers
were removed. The area is unequally divided,
into two compartments, by a substantial stone
partition, having gates of brass, the hinges of
which remain. Over the arch is a gallery, running
across, and communicating at each end, Avith the
stair-cases. The entrances to these, stair-cases, and
from them to the gallery, is by a door and passage

52
placed on each side of the brazen gates, in the interior
or eastern division of the area; by which means, if
an enemy had forced the portcullis, and obtained
possession ofthe anti-gateway, the defendants within
would have had access to the upper part of the
fortress, whence the assailants might have been
very much annoyed. — The eastern division forms a
cube, of about twenty-eight feet, and, from the pro
jecting remains of those parts of the groins, im
mediately above the springing still to be seen in the
angles, appears to have been Aaulted with stone.
The internal walls, on both sides, are highly decorated
with light and elegant tracery, of exquisite work
manship. Shields, containing the arms of King
Edward the Confessor, Thomas de Brotherton,*
and Holland Duke of Exeter, finely cut in stone,
form part of the ornaments. But that which at
tracts generally most attention, is the perfection
and beauty of the arch in the East front; its sym
metry and elegant proportions are equally gratifying
to the eye of taste, and to the scientific observer.
The stones Avhich form the pillars and mouldings of
this arch are of a nature so durable, that, though
it has borne the revolution of four centuries, it re
tains the perfect appearance of Avork recently
erected. Over this division, a space of nearly
* Thomas de Brotherton, second son to Edward I. and half
brother to Edward II. was doubtlessly a benefactor and con
tributor towards the buildings. His arms, twice displayed in
the most conspicuous part, are still in admirable preservation.

53
equal dimensions, appears to have been a room, the
entrance to which was from the gallery over the par
tition. The vestiges of a roof, and of a floor, are
very evident; and on the north side are the re
mains of a fire-place. The north and south sides
haAe each two small windows. The Portarius, or
Janitor, had apartments, for himself and servants,
in or near the gate, at which one of them was always
to be in attendance. — In the east end is a grand
window of three compartments, the upper one of
which is splendidly adorned with tracery peculiarly
rich and elegant. "This AA'indow," observes, the
Rev. Mr. Yates, from whose accurate and more
extended description of this beautiful and interesting
relic of the times of monachism, we present this
sketch, " must have afforded a most enchanting and
interesting vieAv. In the fore-ground would appear
the Court and Palace of the Abbot, with the
magnificent and peaceful abodes of Religion, im
pressing the imagination Avith sensations awful and
sublime: then the teautiful gardens and vineyards,
between which, the Lark and Linnet, Avinding in
highly-decorated banks through a fertile valley,
unite their waters under the picturesque bridge at
the extremity of the monastery: and beyond these,
the extensive swelling fields of St. Edmund's Hill
and Eldo Grange gradually melt into the horizon,
and bound the prospect."
Within the abbey, in the days of its greatest
prosperity, were 80 monks, 15 chaplains, and 111
F 5

54
servants. — The abbot, who had a prior, sub-prior,
sacrist, and other officers under him, enjoying all
the privileges of the mitred Abbots,* with many
important exclusive rights and immunities. He was
a spiritual parliamentary baron, he held synods in his
own Chapter house, and he appointed the parochial
clergy of the town. Nor were his temporal less
important than his ecclesiastical prerogatives. He
possessed the power of trying, and determining, by
his High-steAvard, all causes Avithin the franchise or
liberty of Bury, comprising, as already stated,
eight hundreds and a half. In the town, and within
a mile round it, he had also the authority of chief
* Mitred Abbots were distinguished from Bishops by small
variations in their official ornaments. The mitres of Bishops
were adorned with gold and precious stones. By an ordinance
of Pope Clement the Fourth, those of Abbots were adorned with
gold only. The Abbots also carried the crosier in the right
hand ; which the Bishops did in the left. These pastoral crooks
were sometimes barely curled, somelimes more ornamented,
and like maces rather than crosiers. The public dress of an
Abbot Avas nearly episcopal; consisting of the dalmatic, or
seamless coat of Christ, signifying holy and immaculate piety;
of the mitre, emblematic of Christ, the head of the church ; of
the crosier, or pastoral cane ; of the gloves, which, because oc
casionally worn or laid aside, typified the concealment of good
works, for shunning vanity, and the demonstration of them for
edification ; of the ring, as Christ was the spouse of the Church ;
and of ths sandals, because as the foot was neither covered nor
naked, so the gospel should neither be concealed, nor rest on,
earthly benefit. Their parliamentary robes were a gown, hood,
and cassock.

55
magistrate, and of inflicting capital punishments.
Without his permission, no officer of the king could
hold a court, or exercise any office, in Bury. As
lord of the toAvn, he claimed the right of appointing
the alderman; but an agreement was at length made,
that the burgesses composing the corporation should
elect that officer, who, in entering upon his functions,
should receive the abbot's confirmation, and take
the following oath: —
"Ye schall swere that ye schall bere yow trewly
and faithfully in the office of the aldermanscipe of
this town of Bury, ayens the abbot and the covent
of this place and all her mynistris: ye schall bere,
kepe, and maintaine, pees to yowre powere ; and ye
schall nor thyng appropre nor accroche that longyth
to the said abbot and covent ; nor take upon the
thyngis that long on to the office of the bayliscipp
of the sayd town: also, that ye schall not procure,
be yow, nor be noon other, privyly nor openly, any
thyng unlawful, that might be harme or damage on
to the seyd abbot and covent ; nor suffered to be
done ; but that ye schall be redy to meynteyn and de-
fende them, and there mynistris, yn all the ryghts and
customs that of dew long on to them, inasmuche as
ye may leyfully do. Thees artycles and poyntis
ye shall observe and kepe the tym that ye stand in
this office. So help yow God and all hys seynts,
and by this boke." ,r-
The supreme authority, exercised by the abbot,
uras a cause of frequent dissention between him and

56
the inhabitants. " In 1327, the townsmen, headed
by their alderman and chief burgesses, and having
collected 20,000 persons from the neighbouring
towns and villages, made an attack upon the monas
tery and its possessions, and threatened the total
destruction of the establishment. Having demo
lished the gates, doors, and Avindows, and beaten and
wounded the monks and servants, they broke open
the chests and cotters, out of which they took great
quantities of rich plate, books, Arestments, and other
valuables, besides £500, in ready money, and 3000
florins. They also carried away three charters of
Canute, four of Hardicanute, one of EdAvard the
Confessor, two of Henry the First, three of Henry
the Third, twelve papal bulls, with several deeds,
Avritten obligations and acknowledgements for money
due to the convent. Great part of the monastery
was reduced to ashes, and many of the manors and
granges belonging to it, in Bury and its vicinity,
shared the same fate. The abbot being at this time
in London, the rioters seized and confined Peter
Clopton, the prior, and about twenty of the monks,
whom' they afterwards compelled, in the name ofthe
whole chapter of the convent, to execute under the
capitular seal, a deed, constituting the burgesses a
guild or corporation. They also forced them to sign
an obligation for the payment of £10,000 to certain
of the townsmen, to discharge them from all debts
due to the monastery, and to engage not to proceed
against them at law for any damage done to the

57
monastery. The king being informed of these trans
actions, a military force was sent, to suppress the
disturbance. The alderman and twenty-four of the
burgesses were imprisoned ; thirty carts full of the
rioters were taken prisoners to Norwich ; nineteen
of the most notorious offenders Avere executed, and
one was pressed to death, because he refused to put
himself upon his trial. Thirty- two parochial clergy
men were convicted as abettors. The inquiries,
that arose out of this affair, occupied nearly five
years, the final decision being given by Edward the
Third, in 1332. The justices commissioned to in
vestigate the amount of the damages sustained by
the abbey, bad estimated them at the enormous
sum of £140,000; but at the king's request, the
abbot remitted to the offenders 122,333Z. 6*. 8d.
and, at length, forgave them the remainder, on
condition of their future good behaviour. All the
deeds and charters, taken from the monastery, Avere
to be restored ; all the instruments and obligations
obtained by force, were declared null and void, and
were to be delivered up to the abbot. Fox states,
' that Berton, the alderman, Herling, 32 priests,
13 women, and 138 other persons of the town, were
outlawed; and that some of these, to revenge the
abbot's breach of promise, surprised him at the
manor of Chevington. Having bound and shaved
him, they conveyed him to London, and thence over
the sea into Brabant, Avhere they kept him a pri
soner. He was at length rescued by his friends,
who had discovered the place of his confinement,'"

5S
The exemption of the abbey from the ecclesiasti
cal authority of the diocesan, so that none but the
Roman Pontiff or his Legate could exercise any
spiritual poAver within the limits of the monasterial
jurisdiction, also involved the abbots in many vio
lent disputes. In the reign of William the Con
queror, Herfastus, bishop of Hulm, having an
nounced his intention of removing the see to Bury,
the abbot (Baldwyn) alarmed at this threatened in
vasion of the privileges of his House, appealed to
the King, by whose advice he repaired to Rome ;
where Pope Alexander II. not only confirmed the
rights and immunities of the abbey, by a bull, dated
at the Lateran, in the month of November, 1071,
but presented him Avith a porphyry altar for his
churcii, with the extraordinary privilege, that,
should all the rest of the kingdom be under excom
munication, mass might be there celebrated, unless
expressly prohibited by his Holiness. Notwith
standing this decision of the Pope's, the contest
was continued until a pretended miracle compelled
the bishop to desist from his hostile efforts.* AfeAv
* Archdeacon Herman, who bore a part in the transaction al
luded to, states as follows : — " The bishop riding one day, and
conversing on the injuries which he meditated against the mo
nastery, was struck upon the eyes by a. branch, and a, violent
and painful suffusion of blood occasioned immediate blindness ;
St. Edmund thus avenging himself, and punishing the temerity
of the invader of his rights. The prelate long remained blind,
and could obtain no relief. Coming in one morning, and com
miserating his condition, I said to him: ' My lord bishop, your
endeavours are useless, no collii'ium will avail; you should seek

59
years aftenvards, however, he renewed the contest,
which was not terminated till the king convoked a
council at Winchester, which discussed the subject,
and admitted the full claims of the abbot. King
William, at the same time, granted a charter, which
was inscribed by himself, his queen, his three sons,
two archbishops, thirteen bishops, and twenty ab
bots and nobles, confirming all the charters of his
the favour of God and St. Edmund. Hasten to abbot Baldwyn,
that his prayers to God and the Saint may provide an efficacious
medicine!' This counsel, at first despised, was at length as
sented to. I, Herman, undertook the embassy, and executed it
on the same day, the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude. The
abbot benignantly granted the request ; and the feeble bishop
came to the monastery, being graciously received by the abbot,
and admonished to reflect, that as offences against God and St.
Edmund were diminished, the medicine to be applied would
more certainly alleviate his sufferings. They proceed into the
church, where, in the presence of the elder brethren, and cer
tain peers of the realm, Hugo de Montfort, Roger Bigod, Rich
ard, the son of pilbcrt, &c. the bishop declares the cause of
his misfortune ; recites the injuries he had conceived against
this holy place ; confesses himself culpable ; condemns his ad
visers under an anathema ; and binds himself by a vow to re
ject such counsels. He then advances with sighs and tears to
the foot of the altar; places on it the pastoral staff; prostrates
himself before God and St. Edmund ; performs his devotions,
and receives absolution from the abbot and brethren. Then
having made trial of the abbot's medicine, and as I saw, by the
application of cauteries and colliriums, assisted by the prayers
of the brethren, in a short time he returned perfectly healed :
only a small obscurity remained in the pupil of one eye, as *
memorial of his audacity."

60
predecessors in favour of the abbey. — In the year
1 345, another violent contention took place. Wil
liam Bateman, bishop of Norwich, claimed a right
of subjecting, the abbey to ecclesiastical visitation.
Edward III. commanded the bishop to desist from
his attempts to violate the privileges of the abbey;
but the prelate disregarded the royal mandate, and
excommunicated the messenger by whom it was
served. The abbot appealed to the law, which gave
a verdict in his favour, and sentenced the bishop to
pay 30 talents, equal to £10,000 sterling, the penalty
attached to his offence by a charter of Hardicanute.
In subsequent proceedings this judgment was af
firmed, the bishop's temporalities were decreed to
be held in the king's hands till the fine should be
paid, and a day was appointed to seize his body.
The bishop, however, found means of delay, till the
25th of September, 1347, when the archbishop sum
moned a council at St. Paul's, and, by a compro
mise, the temporalities of the bishop were restored.
In the thirteenth century, disputes and rivalry,
of a very different nature, had occurred. About
the year 1255, or 1256, some brethren of the order
of Franciscan or Grey Friars, came to Bury, du
ring a vacancy in the abbacy, and, having procured
a situation in the north part of the town, began to
perform their religious exercises. The monks, in
dignant at this intrusion, and finding remonstrance
of no avail, demolished the buildings, and expelled
the friars, who applied to the papal court for redress.

61
Alexander IV. reproved the monks, and ordered
the friars to be put in possession of an estate in the
west part of the town. The monks, however, main
tained a resolute opposition, until king Henry III.
who, with many of his nobility, had espoused the
cause of the Franciscans, sent down his chief jus
tice to Bury, and established them by force. The
friars immediately constructed suitable religious edi
fices. On the death of Pope Alexander, soon after
wards, the monks renewed their application to his
successor, seconding it with an argument which
seldom failed of success at the court of Rome. In
consequence, Urban IV. revoked the bulls of Alex
ander, commanded the friars to demolish their
buildings, and, on pain of excommunication, to
leave Bury within a month. After some further,
but ineffectual struggles, the friars publicly renounced
all right and title to the estate in Bury. The abbot
and convent then freely granted them a part of the
monastic possessions, called Babbewell, beyond the
bounds and jurisdiction of the town. The friars
there erected some handsome buildings, and main
tained an establishment till the dissolution. The
site of their premises is still called the Friary.
Another religious establishment, called Jesus Col
lege, erected by king Edward IV. in the year 1481,
was also continued here till the reformation. It
consisted of a warden and six associates, or priests.
The building, supposed to have given name to Col-
G

62
lege-street, in which it was situated, has been con
verted into a workhouse.
The monastery remained 519 years in the pos
session of the Benedictine monks, and, during that
time, it was governed by 33 abbots, an illustrative
chronological list of which is given in Mr. Yates's
History . At the dissolution, the revenues of the ab
bey were valued, by the commissioners, at 2366/. 16*.
This, however, is considered to have been much
below the truth ; and it was estimated, by an in
telligent writer, in the year 1725, that all the pos
sessions and perquisites of the abbey would, at that
time, be worth not less than £200,000 per aim.
Allowing for the wonderful increase in the value of
landed property, and in every article of agricultural
produce, during the last century, it may reasonably
be presumed, that the income now would be from
5 to £600,000 a year.
At the period of the dissolution, some ineffectual
efforts were made to avert the impending blow
from this establishment. In the year 1536, the ab
bot and monastery settled upon secretary Cromwell
and his son an annuity of £10, payable out of the
rents of the manor of Harlowe, in Essex. Neither
this pension, however, nor the full acknowledge
ment of the king's ecclesiastical authority, produced
the desired effect. On the 4th of November, 1539,
the whole of the monastic possessions were surren
dered to the king, and the abbot and his brethren

63
were driven from their splendid home to subsist
upon a scanty stipend. — The commissioners, ap
pointed to visit this abbey at the dissolution, report,
that they found here " a riche shryne which was
very comberous to deface. We have taken," they
continue, " in the seyd monastery in golde and sil
ver 5,000 markes and above, besyds as well a riche
crosse with emerelds, as also dyvers and sundry
stones of great value; and yet we have .left the
churche, abbott, and convent, very well furneshed
with plate of sylver necessary for the same." — Ih
another report, signed " John Ap Rice," and dated
from Burie, 5th Nov. 1539, he says, " As touching
the convent we could geate little or no complaints
amonge theym, although we did use moche diligens
in oure examinacion ; and therby with some other
arguments gathered of their examinacions formerly,
I believe and suppose they had confedered and com
pacted befoure, oure comyng, that they shoulde dis
close nothynge ; and yet it is confessed and proved,
that there was here such frequence of women
comyn, and reasserting to this monasterie, as to no
place more. Amongest the reliques we founde
moche vanitie and supersticion — as the coles that
St. Lawrence was tosted withal ; the paryng of St.
Edmund's naylls, St. Thomas of Canter, penneknyff
and his bootes ; and divers skulls for the head-ache,
peces of the Holie Crosse able to make a hole
crosse ; of other reliques for rayne,., and certain

64
other supersticious usages ; for avoiding of weeds
growing in corn with such other."
Amongst the numerous gifts, and offerings, which
were, at different times, presented to the abbey, and
to the shrine of St. Edmund, the following, in ad
dition to those we have before mentioned, appear
deserving of notice. — King Richard III. bestowed
15 marks per ann. to find two wax tapers, which he
afterwards doubled, and gave 10 oxgangs of land in
Aylsham, that four tapers might be kept continually
burning at the altar of the saint. King John gave a
sapphire, of virtue (saphyrum virtuosum) and a large
ruby, set in gold, to the shrine, reserving the use
of them for his own life. He also gave six marks
annually towards the repairs of the shrine. Samp
son de Botington, the tenth abbot, who governed
from the year 1180 to 1213, gave to the church a
golden cross, and the aqueduct of our Saviour's
Hospital, adorned the shrine with gold and gems,
and built four halls of curious stone work. In the
time of this abbot, Robert de Gravele, the sacrist,
purchased the vineyard for the solace of invalids,
and of his friends, and enclosed it with a stone wall.
The popish procession of the white bull, which
evidently had its origin in the times of Pagan super
stition, proved a fruitful source of wealth to the es
tablishment. " The sacrist of the monastery, as
often as he let lands near the town, then and still
called Haberdon, annexed this condition, that the

65
tenant should* provide a white bull, whenever a ma
tron of rank, or any other, should come, out of de-
Arotion, or in consequence of a vow, fo make the
oblations of the white bull, as they were denomi
nated, at the shrine of St. Edmund. On this oc
casion, the animal, adorned with ribbons and gar
lands, was brought to the south gate of the monas
tery, and led along Church-gate, Guildhall, and
Abbey-gate streets, to the great west gate, the lady
all the while keeping close to him, and the monks
and people forming a numerous cavalcade. Here
the procession ended ; the animal was conducted
back to his pasture, while the lady repaired to St.
Edmund's shrine to make her oblations, as a certain
consequence of which, she was soon to become a
mother. As foreign ladies, desirous of issue, might
have found it inconvenient to repair hither in person,
to assist at these ceremonies, they were certain to
prove equaUy efficacious if performed hy proxy.
In a deed, a copy of which is given by Haukins,*
" John Swaffham, sacrist of the monastery of St.
Edmund's Bury, certifies all christian people, that
on the 2d of June, 1474, three religious persons,
Avhom he names, of the city of Ghent, came and
offered, as had been accustomed of old time, at the
shrine of the blessed King, Virgin, and Martyr, St.
Edmund, in the presence of several reputable
* A schoolmaster at Hadleigh, who, in his Corolla varia,
printed at Cambridge in 1684, has given a humorous account of
the ceremonies of the procession, in Latin verse.
g5

66
people, and of the said Martyr, one white bull, for
the accomplishment ofthe longing of a certain noble
lady (inrelevamendesiderii eiijusdam nobilis domina.)"
Amongst the many noble persons, buried in the
abbey church, appear to have been the following : —
Alan Ferguant, earl of Richmond ; Thomas de Bro
therton, earl of Norfolk; * Thomas Beaiifort, son of
* On the 7th of February, 1772, some labourers, who were
employed in breaking up a part of the ruins of this church, dis
covered a leaden coffin, which had been enclosed in cue of oak,
some remains of which were apparent. The coffin contained an
enbalmed body, well formed, about six feet in length, and as
fresh, and entire, as at the time of interment. The body was
surrounded by a kind of pickle, and the face was covered with
a cere-cloth, which came off whole. The features and lineaments
of the face were perfect ; the fluids of the eyes were undissolved,
and their colour was distinguishable^ the hair of the head,
which was brown, with a slight mixture of grey, was quite fresh ;
and the nails, upon the fingers and toes, adhered as firmly as in
a living subject. For the sake of the lead, which they sold for
about fifteen shillings, the labourers removed the body from its
receptacle, and threw it among the rubbish. A surgeon in the
town, however, hearing of the wonderful preservation in which
a corpse had been found, caused it to be taken up, for the pur
pose of experiment. In making an incision on the breast, and
on other parts, the flesh was found to cut as firmly as that of a
body recently dead : there was even an appearance of blood.
On opening the skull, the brain, slightly wasted, appeared in
closed in its proper membrane. At this time the corpse was not
in the least offensive, but on being exposed to the air it soon
became putrid. From the place where the body Avas found, and
from the expense and care, which had evidently been employed
for its preservation, not a doubt can be entertained that it was
the remains of Thomas Beaufort, son of John of Gaunt,

67
John of Gaunt, by the Lady Catherine SAvinford,
Duke of Exeter, in King Henry V.'s reign; Mary
Queen of France, widow of Louis XII. and sister of
Henry VIII. ; John Boor, abbot of this monastery,
who died in the 9th year of Edward IV. ; Robert the
martyr, a child crucified by the Jews ; Sir William
Elmham, Sir Wm. Spencer, Sir Wm.Tresil, knights ;
and John Lydgate, the famous poet, who was a monk
here about the year 1440. — The monuments of most
of these persons perished with the abbey. On the
tomb of Lydgate is said to have been the following-
epitaph : — Mortuus saeclo, superis superstes,
Hie jacet Ljdgat tumulatus Urna,
Cjui fuit quondam Celebris Britannae
Fama Poesis.
Duke of Lancaster, by his third Duchess, Lady Catherine
Swinford, grandson of King Edward III. half-brother to
Henry IV. by whom he was created Duke of Exeter, Knight of
the Garter, Admiral and Governor of Calais, and Lord High
Chancellor of England. At the battle of Agincourt, he led the
rear-guard of the English army; afterwards bravely defended
Harfleur against the French ; was guardian to Henry VI. and,
dying at East Greenwich, on the 1st of January, 1427, was, in
compliance with his will, interred in the abbey church of Bury
St. Edmund's, at the entrance of St. Mary's Chapel, close to the
wall, on the north side of the choir. — The mangled remains of
this distinguished personage were, at length, interred in a
strong oaken coffin, and buried, seven feet deep, at the foot
of the large north-east pillar, which formerly assisted to support
the belfry.

68
In quaint English thus : —
Dead in the world yet living in the sky,
Intombed in this Urn doth Lydgate lye,
In former times famed for his poetry
All over England.
In the month of February, A. D. 1560, Queen
Elizabeth, by letters patent under the great seal,
granted to John Eyre, esq. in consideration of the
sum of 412/. 19s. 4d. paid by him, all the site, cir
cuit, and precinct of the monastery, with other
lands, and premises inthe neighbourhood belonging
thereunto. Having subsequently pasted through
the hands of various purchasers, they were, in the
year 1720, conveyed, for the sum of £2,800, to
Major Richardson Pack. That gentleman soon
afterwards assigned the premises to Sir Jermyn
Davers, in whose family they continued, till it became
extinct, some years ago, bv the death of Sir Charles
Davers, bart. and they are now the property of the
Earl of Bristol.
Besides the church of St. Edmund, the abbey
comprehended, within its precincts, the three
churches of St. Margaret, St. Mary, and St. James.
The site of the first of these is occupied by the pre
sent Shire-hall ; the others are the churches of the
two parishes, into which the town is divided.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

69

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

The rebuilding of St. Mary's Church (originally
erected A. D. 1005) was begun in 1424, and finished
about the year 1433. This fine structure is 139 feet
long (exclusive of the chancel, which is 74 feet by 68)
and 67 f in breadth. It is divided into three aisles,
by two rows of elegant, slender columns. The roof
of the nave, which was framed at Caen in Normandy,
is deservedly admired for its lightness and elegance.
From their height, the finely carved figures of
angels, which support the principals of the roof,
fortunately escaped the barbaric fury of the puritans.
The supporters of the braces over the north and
south aisles are particularly deserving of notice;
bearing, neatly carved, the arms of the borough,
and of the bishopric of Norwich, a variety of birds,
beasts, &c. — The devices in the centres of the prin
cipals are also very curious.
Tlie roof of the chancel is painted and gilSed in
imitation of curiously shaped pannels, at the bottom
of which, in eleven compartments on each side, are
represented angels, with scrolls in their hands, on
which is inscribed the Te Deum Laudamus.
Of the numerous altars, images, and pictures, by
which this edifice was distinguished, previously to
the reformation, part of an altar, supposed to be

70
that of our Lady, against the south wall, is all that
remains. The pillars, monuments, and walls of the church
have, for successive years, been washed with white
lime. The present sexton, a short time since, in
scraping off a portion of this extraneous covering
from the wall, on the north side of the west en
trance, discovered, on its original face, a painting
in water colours, representing " Our Saviour taken
from the Cross ; " and there is little doubt that other
parts of the building were ornamented in a similar
manner. At the dissolution, St. Mary's church, as well as
that of St. James, was included in the general system
of plunder, and both of them were stripped of plate,
and other ornaments, to the value, at that period,
of £480. Numerous inscriptions, and effigies in
brass, were, in the year 1644, torn off by the church
wardens, and scandalously sold for their private
emolument. Thus, many of the most ancient mo
numents, in these churches, have lost their chief
interest. During a violent thunder-storm, on the 1st of
August, 1766, a fissure was made in the wall of this
church, several large stones of which were driven
into the interior, and so tremendous Avas the ex
plosion, that the destruction of the whole edifice
was apprehended.
On the north side of the communion table, in
St. Mary's church, was formerly an altar monument,

71
simple and unadorned, to the memory of Mary
Tudor, third daughter of Henry VII. whose re
mains, originally interred in the conventual church,
were, at the .. dissolution, removed hither. This
monument was thought to be only a cenotaph ; but,
on opening it, in the year 1731, a covering of lead,
evidently enclosing a human body, was found, with
the following inscription on the breast : —
Mary Queue
1533.
of ffranc.
Edmund H.
The slab that covered the tomb was doubtlessly the
one which had been originally devoted to that pur
pose. It was marked with crosses, and consequently
had served also as an altar at which masses were
celebrated. — Notwithstanding the discovery of tliese
royal remains, the tomb continued without any ex
ternal memorial of the deceased, until the year 1758;
when Dr. Symonds, of Bury, caused it to be re
paired at his own expense, and placed a marble
tablet at its west end, inscribed as follows : —
Sacred to the Memory
Of Mary Tudor,
Third Daughter of Henry VII. King of England,
and Queen of France ;
who was first married in 1514, to
Lewis XII. King of France ;
and afterwards, in 1517, to
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

She died in his life-time, 1533,
At the Manor of Westhorpe in this County;
and was interred in the same Year in the
Monastery of St. Edmund's, Bury,
and was removed into this Church
after the Dissolution of the Abbey.*
In the middle of the chancel, lies interred John
Reeves, the last abbot of Bury. His grave was
originally covered with a very large, marble slab,
embellished with the arms of the Abbey, impaling
those of his family, and also his full effigies in brass,
in his pontificals. The brass was torn away by the
fanatics of 1643; and, in 1717, the slab was broken,
to make room for a paltry stone, to cover a Mr.
Sutton, the purser of a ship, who was buried in the
abbot's grave. Upon the original slab was a Latin
epitaph, of which the following is a translation : —
* From the manuscript notes ofthe late Rev. Mr. Ashby, with an
inspection of which we have been favoured, we transcribe the follow
ing curious particulars, respecting this amiable and interesting Prin
cess.. — " Her hair, which was in quantity, was high red, and a Lady
whom I know, having some resembling, has often been asked to part
with a lock to be passed off' for the Queen's. See Duchess of Port
land's Catalogue, at wliose sale a lock sold for six guineas — [oue is at
this time possessed by Mr. Deck.] The French Ambassador has sinoe
offered 4 or 5 guineas for a lock for the Queen of France. For its auburn
colour, see Lady Moiua, in Archaeol. VII. p. 104 (V). 27 Febr. 1789.
Miss Harmer, of Wattesfield, eldest daughter of my late worthy corres
pondent, shewed me a lock, very clean and nice^ a little curled, or in
a ring: it was certainly red, and not aubnrn. Mr. Pate, attorney, of
Bury, assured me that he had some, and that it was plainly of two
colours, which he accounted for by tlie kowerpart lying iininerset] in
pickle : 27th April, 1789— Gent. Mag. 1786, 540.— M. M. 1104, 127.
Coliana."

73
"Here rest tbe sepultUred bones of tbat man whom Bury
formerly acknowledged Lord and Abbot ; born at Melford, in
Suffolk, named John ; his family and father, Reeves. He was
magnanimous, prudent, learned, benignant, and upright, loving
the religion to which he was dedicated. Who, when he had
seen the 31st year of the reign of Henry VIII. on the 31st day
of March, sunk untimely to the grave. Spare his soul, O gra
cious God ! — 1540."*
The church register records a bishop of Laghlin,
in Ireland, to have been interred here, about the
same time as abbot Heeves; but no further memorial
of him is known to be extant.
At the east end of the south aisle, is a well ex
ecuted altar monument for John Baret, who died
in 1463. The traditionary account of this man is,
that, in endeavouring to fast 40 days and nights, he
*Johu Reeves, who became abbot of Bury in 1511, surrendered tbe
abbey to tbe Ring on tbe 4th of November, 1539; on which, an an
nuity of 500 marks was assigned him. He is supposed to have retired
at first, for a very short time, to what is called the Exchequer; bat,
afterwards, he took up his residence in a house, at the south-west cor
ner of Cruwn-strect, which is yet standing, aud has undergone less al
teration than any other, of that age, in the town. His arms were to be
seen in one of the windows, as recently as tbe year 1768, and probably
long since that period. Chagrin and vexation are supposed to have
shortened bis life. His character is thus noticed in John Ap Rice's
report, concerning the misrule of Bury Abbey : — " As for the abbot, we
fiude nothing to suspect as touching hys Jivvng, but it was delected that
he lave moche forth in his granges; that be delited moche in playing at
dice and cardes, aud therein spent moche money, and in building for
hU pleasure. He did not preache openly. Also that he converted
divers fer mes into copieholds, whereof poor men doth complaine.
Also he seemeth to be addicted to the meynteyningof such superstitious
ceremouies ashathe ben used heretofor."

74
starved himself to death. He is represented in a re
cumbent posture, in robes; and, on the drapery, over
his head, is an inscription, partly illegible, in church
text, which has been thus translated: — / sleep in
dust, O Lord. Under the drapery is, Que secundu
actu meu noli me judicare; translated, Judge me
not O Lord according to my actions. At the west end
of the monument, is the following inscription : —
" He that wil sadly beholde me with his ie
Jon. Baret.
May se hys owyn Merowr, and lerne to die."
At the east end is a representation of a lamb, with
a flag, encircled with a glory, written round it, Deus
propitius esto mihi peeeatori; translated, The Lord be
merciful to me a sinner. The inscription on the south
side, near the wall of the church, is unintelligible.
On the north side are the Baret arms,* with the motto,
" Grace me govern." Over the monument is a
wooden ceiling, divided into six sections, in each of
which are the initials of his name, with the motto,
" Grace me govern,'' curiously painted and orna
mented, the colours of which are remarkably fresh,
after a lapse of more than 350 years. On the east
side of this ceiling is written, in church text, Orate
pro anima Johanis Baret; on the south side, Allehilia
Soli Deo Honor et Gloria; on the west, Qua sursum
sunt quarite ; and, on the north, .... tuam prolem ...
 Virgo Maria, Amen. On the trussed brace,
* Argent a bend between 3 square buckles.

75
on the east side, is, In Dho gaudebit dia mea.
This monument, with many others in the church,
were till lately enveloped in thick coats of whiting;
and it appears, that whenever the church wanted
cleaning and whitewashing, the ignorance of the
persons employed went so far as to daub the mo
numents in the same manner, completely covering
the gilding, arms, and inscriptions with which they
are decorated.
On the south side of the chancel, beneath the last
arch, towards the east, is a large altar monument,
covering the remains of Sir Robert Drury,*' who
was Privy Councillor to Henry VII. and VIII,
and is supposed to have died about the year 1533.
Opposite to this monument, is that of Sir William
Carew, who died in 1501, and his wife, of the
Drury family, who died in 1525. The armorial
bearings, on Sir R. Drury's tomb, are defaced; but
those of Sir W. Carew f are in good preservation:
over the tombs are their trophies.
At the east end of the north aisle, is a memorial
of John Finers, Archdeacon of Sudbury, A. D.
1497, bearing his effigies, and an inscription, in
monkish Latin, on a brass plate.
* Father of Sir William Drury, who died in 1557, and of whom
there is a curious brass effigy remaining in Hawsted Church.
f 1. Or 3Cheverons, Sa. 2. Or 3 Lions passant, Sa. impaling
obscure. 3. The 3 Lions quartering the 3 Cheverons. 4. The 3
Lions impaling Drury. 5. The 3 Lions singly.

76
In the vestry, at the east end of the south aisle,
are the effigies (as is supposed) of John, otherwise
Jankyn Smith (a great benefactor ofthe church and
town) and his wife, engraven in brass, on a flat stone.
In the vestry are two Hatchments — on one,
Argent on a fess dauncette, Sable, 3 leopards' heads
fessant fleur de lys, Or (West) impaling — quarterly,
per Cheveron, ragule, Or and Gules 4 Martlets coun
terchanged — Crest, from a ducal coronet, a Griffin's
head, Argent, beaked, Or. On the other, West,
impaling per fess coupe in chief Sable a Cheveron
between 3 Eagles displayed Or, in base the im
palement of the foregoing coat.
Contiguous to this, is another flat stone, in me
mory of John Smith, of the Middle Temple, who
died in 1650, the last of the family of Jankyn Smith.
On a brass plate, at the lower part of the south
aisle, on a flat stone, is the following inscription : —
50?ete in thig graoe anb unber tftitf one Stone
©eth tfbmunb rest, this WenruS elbeSt Sonne
J©ho enbina So &g Setter b»e coufbe none
SmmortaH fope for mortaU life hath toonne
£ feroent jeale unto the trewth he have
3tnb firte f»S faith on <ChriSte moSt conStantl?
3C£ at hii* Death his toorbeS bib WeU beclare
©nto the jope of an the StanberS hj
flThttS here je See of tree anb frugte the fuU
<@f Sire anb Sonne S mesne whom beatb hath Slapne
(Sob mafte uS MeSt, for him uifcen 6e SlmH call
®jat henen tjroiaoh ChviSte toe man hereafter 0o?ne
ALRVMNAV • REQVIES • MORS ¦
OBIT • OV1NTO • BIE ¦ IVL11 • ANNO • DVI ¦ 1575.

77
On a brass plate in the middle aisle : —
HERE LYliTH THE BODY OF STEPHEN
ASHWELL SOMETYME A BURGESSE OF THIS
BOUOHGUI WHO WAS A CHARITABLE MAN
TO YE POOR IN HIS LIFE TYME AND A
GOOD BENEFACTOR TO THEM AT HIS
DEATH NOVEMBER ANNO 1624
Near the above, on a brass plate, with the Arms
of Boldero, per pale Or and Az. a Saltire coun
terchanged in a handsome mantle; Crest, a Grey
hound ; "is the following inscription: —
HERE LYETH BVRIED GEORGE BOLDERO
GENT, WHO LYVED IN THE FLARE
OF GOD AND DYED IN THE FAITH OF
CMIUST THE 7 OF NOVEB ANNO
DI 1609 ESTATES SVX 47'
The only brass remaining, is a small one, with the
arms, Argent a fess between six annulets, Gules,
(Lucas;) impaling Azure, a bend Argent billety Sa.
(Morieux) with the Crest of Lucas.
There are many other monuments, erected within
a few years : amongst which is, one to Lieut. George
Heigham, of H. M. Ship, Royal George, Son of
Pell Heigham, Esq. formerly of this town, who was
killed on the 29th of May, preceding Lord Howe's
Victory, on the glorious first of June; another, of
the family of Tumor, long resident in this town,
with a latin inscription, gratefully dedicated by their
relative, Frederick Henry Barnwell, and placed
at the west end, in 1804 ; another, to the memory
H5

78
of Lewis Marcel Cotman, LL. B. of Trinity Hall,
Cambridge, who died and was buried at Gibraltar, in
1815; another, to Major Baker, of the 54th Regi
ment, nephew to James Oakes, Esq. of this town,
who was killed at the battle of Toulouse, April 10,
,1814; and, another, to Lieut. Col. Collier, of the
Coldstream Guards, killed before Bayonne.
In the crypt, at the east end of the chancel, lie
the remains of Joseph Weld, Esq. Sergeant at Law,
Recorder, and, at the time of his death, in 1711, one
of the representatives of this town in parliament;
of Col. West, a relation of the Delaware family,
who died in 1751 ; of Mrs. West, who died in 1732;
and of Catherine Ray, who died in 1770.
This church contains a very small organ.^From
the increased and increasing population ofthe Town,
a new gallery was erected, by subscription, in the
year 1810.
The antique Octagon Stone Font is also deserving
of notice. At the base, are figures, rudely sculp
tured, much defaced by time; and, on its sides, are
the following arms : —
1. Azure, 3 Ducal crowns Or, each transfixed by 2 Arrows
saltirewise Argent ; (Arms of the town granted by Ja. I. in 1608.)
2. Or, 2 lions passant guardant Azure (Hanmer). 3. Gules on
a bend Argent 3 trefoils slipped Vert (Hervey). 4. Argent on
a bend Gules 3 Martlets Or (Davers) . 5. Or 3 Cinquefoils Gules
Darcy. 6. Sa. a crescent between 2 mullets in pale Arg. Jermyn.
7. the Crest of the town. 8. the See of Norwich.
The north porch of this church, on which is in
scribed, Orate pro animabus Johannis Notyngham, et
Isabelle uxoris sum, and particularly the tail-piece, is
of curious workmanship.

79

ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.

St. James's Church, constructed of freestone,
is a fine Gothic building, the west end of which is
remarkably handsome.
The first church here, was erected about the year
1200, by abbot Sampson, who was dissuaded, by his
brethren of the abbey, from his intention of per
forming a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, at
Compostella, in Spain; and, in compliance with
their recommendation, he founded an edifice here,
in honour of that Saint. The present structure,
though far advanced in the year 1500, was not
finished till the reformation, when Edward VI. gave
£200 towards its completion. Its length is 137 feet,
and its breadth 69; the side aisles are each 20 feet
wide ; and the chancel is 56 feet 8 inches, by 28 feet 5.
Against the wall, in the south aisle, are two
elegant monuments, enclosed with iron railing; one
of them to the Right Hon. James Reynolds, Chief
Baron of the Court of Exchequer, who died in
1738; and the other to Mary, his wife. The baron
is represented sitting, in his robes of justice ; on each
side is a weeping figure ; and above are his armorial
bearings, with other embellishments. A Latin in
scription, upon the pedestal, records the virtues
of the deceased. — There are several other neat,
though not very remarkable, monuments. The fol-

80
lowing, to the memory of the Rev. M. Becher, late
master of the Free Grammar School, may gratify
many of our readers, educated under him : —
M.S.
M. T. BECHER. C. L. A. M.
Coll. Regal. Cantabrigian ¦ olim • socii •
Ludi • in • hoc • municipio • Regii •
Per • annos ¦ fere ¦ xxu ¦ magistri •
ingenium • quod • in • illo • fuit • felix ¦ ac ¦ limatum ¦
Literasque ¦ minime ¦ vulgares •
sed ¦ interiores ¦ illas • et ¦ recondhas ¦
acceptiores • fecit •
vitae • ac ¦ morum • Candida • simplicitas ¦
morbo ¦ repeutino ¦ abreptus •
m • non • jun. anno ¦ salutis • mdcccix • setatis . xlv ¦
sui ¦ desiderium ¦ omnibus • reliquifc •
Quibus • cum • illo •
vel • disciplinse • rommercium • vel • amicitiae • interfuerat ¦
Ludi • rectores ¦
ob • labores • ejus • in • Pueritiam ' informandam ¦
feliciter • impensos •
Hoc • marmor ¦
Pietatis • ergo • atque ¦ Honoris •
P. C.
On the north side, near the west entrance, is the
following : — To the memory of
THE REVD. EDWARD VALENTINE BLOMFIELD. M. A.
Fellow of Emanuel College Cambridge,
who died Oct. 9. 1816. Aged 28.
The happiest gifts of nature, highly cultivated by education,
produced, in the subject of this pious tribute,
an union of all the amiable and excellent qualities,
which at once endear the individual, and ennoble our species

81
To classical attainments of the highest order, were added
the full possesion of several modern languages,
an intimate acquaintance with polite literature,
and a chastised taste, not unaccompanied with
practical skill, in tbe polite arts.
These accomplishments received the highest sanction
from the pure example of his life,
from the faithful discharge of his clerical duties,
from the faith, the hope, and the charity
of a sincere christian,
Erected by the companions of his youth.
Beneath is his profile, on one side of which is a
scroll, inscribed, " Desiderium Porsoni," the other
an appropriate device.
St. James's Church was repaired, and cleaned, in
the early part of the year 1820, when a heavy, cum
bersome gallery, ill according with the elegant light
pillars which support the roof, was erected over the
west entrance. It has a very good and powerful
organ. The chancel, pulpit, &c. are distinguished
by more than usual neatness, and the windows con
tain many beautiful specimens of stained glass, sup
posed originally to have ornamented the abbey
church. If collected and arranged, these remains
of ancient art would, together, form a window of
great and striking interest.

82

THE SAXON TOWER.
The church gate, situated opposite to the west
end of the abbey church, to which in ancient times
it served as a magnificent portal, is considered to be
one of the noblest specimens, of what is termed
Saxon architecture, in the kingdom. It is 80 feet in
height, of a quadrangular figure, and remarkable
for the simple plainness and solidity of its con
struction. Its tower, though 30 feet distant from
St. James's church, serves as a steeple to that edifice.
In the space between the church and the gate, now
occupied by a house, a chapel of Jesus wa? originally
intended to stand. " The arches of this tower,"
observes Kirby, in The Suffolk Traveller, "are all
round, of a Saxon form, and seem to be much older
than Henry the Ill's time." Some are of opinion that
the gate was erected in the reign of William the
Conqueror, at the time that the abbey church was first
built of stone. The material of which it is composed
abounds with small shells, which, though in their
natural state very brittle and perishable, have ac
quired such hardness, as to resist the injuries of
several successive centuries, notwithstanding their
exposure to the elements, by the decomposition of
the softer portions of the stone. The eastern and
western sides of the gate are, in their interior, sup
ported by two large semicircular arches, which ad-

SAXON TOWER, BURY ST. EDMUND'S,

83
mit a free passage for carriages. On the western
exterior, near the foundation, are two curious bas
reliefs, in stone. That on the left represents man
kind in their fallen state, by the figures of Adam and
Eve, with a serpent intwined around them, and Satan
in the back ground insulting Adam. The "other re
lief, emblematic of the delivery of man from hii
bondage, exhibits God the Father, with flowing
hair, and a long parted beard, sitting triumphantly
in a circle, surrounded by Cherubim. Excepting,
that the principal figure has lost the right-hand, this
relic of ancient sculpture is in good preservation.
One of the pannels, at the back ofthe organ, in King's
College Chapel, Cambridge, is carved in a manner
so similar to this, that it is considered to be a copy.
The late Empress Catherine of Russia is said to
have offered 700 guineas for the pannel.
The capitals of some of the columns, in the interior
of this gateway, exhibit grotesque figures, apparently
coeval with the structure. It is to be regreted, that
time has made considerable ravages on this venerable
edifice. In various parts, especially on the side
next to the church yard, wide fissures are con
spicuous ; and, on the other side, it is said to be
twelve inches out of the perpendicular.

84

THE CHURCH YASD.

The two ofaurch yards, which in fact form but one,
of considerable extent, lie between the churches of
St. James and St. Mary; the remains of the con
ventual church forming a partial boundary on one
side. They are kept in excellent order : an alley
of lofty lime trees runs diagonally across them, and
forms a pleasant promenade. The sepulchral me
morials are exceedingly numerous : those on the
higher ground, and nearest to St. Mary's church,
belong to that parish; and those on the ground below
to St. James's. Singular as it may appear, it is pri
vate property, belonging to the corporation of Bury;
having been purchased, at a sale by auction, in the
year 1798, for £350.
Nearly in the centre, is a small plot of ground,
enclosed with iron railing, and planted with various
shrubs and trees, formerly "The Chapel of the
Charnel," in which it is said Lydgate the poet wrote
many of his works. Not many years since, it was
the residence and shop of a blacksmith, when it was
purchased by the late John Spink, Esq. who con
verted it into a mausoleum for himself and family.
A plain marble tablet, with the following inscription,
marks the spot of his interment : —

85
To the memory of
JOHN SPINK, ESQ.
Who died October 22nd, 1794,
Aged 65 years,
This tablet is inscribed by his ex*ecutors,
Not to record virtues
which have raised a lasting monument
in the hearts of those that knew him,
But
to inform the stranger
that under this humble stone
THE CONSTANT AND UNWEARIED FRIEND
OF HUMAN NATURE IN DISTRESS,
lies buried,
NOT FORGOTTEN.
Near this tomb is a plain upright stone, terminating
in a pyramid, with the figure of a cross engraved
upon it, and underneath the following inscription : —
Here lies interred the body of
Mary Haselton,
A young maiden of this town,
born of Roman Catholic parents,
and virtuously brought up ;
Who being in the act of prayer,
repeating her vespers,
Was instantaneously killed
by a flash of lightning,
August 16th, 1785,
Aged 9 years.
Ofthe old inscriptions, formerly in this cemetery,
the following are entitled to preservation, on account
of their gross absurdity : —

86
Here lies Joan Kitchen, when her glass was spent,
She kicked up her heels and away she went.
On the east side, near the Botanic Garden, is
the following, on a Blacksmith : —
My sledge and hammer I've reclined,
My bellows too have lost their wind,
My fire extinct, my forge decay'd,
And in the dust my vice is laid ;
My coals are spent, my irons gone,
My nails are drove, my work is done.
On a tombstone, near the broad walk, with trees,
on the west side of the church yard, is the following
epitaph : —
Here lies the husband of a loving wife :
She lost all earthly comfort when he lost his life ;
A sudden death, a shocking sight to see
His last life's blood was sprinkled over she ;
The king immortal gave the sudden stroke,
He heav'd a sigh, and a blood vessel broke;
He was an honest, and an upright man,
Boast more ye great ones if you can.
Near St. Mary's Church, is a stone to the memory
of Mary Martin, who, by the office of midwife,
brought into the world 2,237 children; and, a few
years ago, here was a memorial of another, who had
assisted at the births of 4,323 living children.*
* These good ladies were not the most celebrated of their
profession. Mary Strode, of Frome, who died at the age of
76, had kept an account of her delivering 4,682. (Month. Mag.
1804, 278) Mrs, Lewis, of Monmouth, who began to practise

87
On the west side of the church yard, on a wall, is
the following : — Reader !
Pause at this humble stone :
it records
The fall of unguarded youth,
By the allurements of vice,
and the treacherous snares
of seduction :
Sarah Lloyd,
on the 23rd April, 1800,
in the 32nd year of her age,
Suffered a just but ignominious
Death,
for admitting her abandoned seducer
into the dwelling house of her mistress
in the night of the 3rd Oct.
1799.
and becoming the instrument
in his hands of the crimes
of robbing and house burning.
These were her last words,
" May my example be a warning
to thousands."
On the north side of the church yard stands the
house of J. Benjafield, Esq. and in the grounds oc-
midwifry at the age of 15, delivered 6,000. (Month. Mag. July
1801, 557) Grace Cawood, of Otley, in Yorkshire, in the course
of 40 years, delivered upwards of 5,000 (Gents. Mag. 1798, 1155),
At Norwich, Mrs. Bowles, in the course of 30 years, brought
into the World upwards of 8,000 children (Cambr. Chron. May
23, 1789). At Jamaica, a midwife died some years ago, at the
age of 118, whose productions in this way amounted to 143,000.
(Month. Mag. 1805, 531. Gents. Mag. 1305, 877).

88
cupied by this Gentleman, are the magnificent and
beautiful ruins of the once celebrated Conventual
Church, built to receive the body of the Patron
Saint. By means ofthe ruins the site of the church
is easily traced; but it is a lamentable fact, that
there is neither model, drawing, nor print, which
can be depended upon, shewing the elevation of
either the church or the monastery, or indeed of
any part of this famous establishment, which
ranked, for opulence and power, as the third in
the kingdom.*
The whole interior of the ancient church has been
planted nd laid out with great taste, by Mr. Ben-
jafield, and the grounds and ruins are objects of
much curiosity to strangers.
In clearing a part of the land, contiguous to the
ruins, ioundations of a former extensive building
were lately discovered; but, of its superstructure
or use, no trace can be found in history.

BOTANIC GARDEN.

This desirable acquisition to the town was
suggested and undertaken by a gentleman, who, from
a love of the science, was induced to remove his
* A few years since, a model of the abbey, made by one
Tillot, was in the possession of an antiquarian of the name of
Reynolds, who lived at Cambridge, and sold with his effects,
but it was not considered a correct representation.

89
private collection, for the purpose of forming a
Botanic Garden, under the patronage and sub
scription of the Nobility, Gentry, and Inhabitants
in general. Its present chief object is the cultivation
of hardy exotic trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants,
which are disposed in various parts of the flower-bor
ders, while the Linnsean or systematic arrangement
is confined to the quarters of the garden only. The
salubrity of the air, with the advantage of many
noble residences in the neighbourhood, gives ample
room for its progressive improvement. Its situation
is very favorable, at the east end of the church
yard, upon a fine declivity, commanding views of
St. Edmund's Hill, and a great part of the ancient
walls or boundary of the Abbey Grounds; Whilst
the river is seen flowing in the valley, and the mea
dows in picturesque beauty, extending to the stately
plantations in Rushbrook Park.
The Subscription to the Garden is two guineas
per annum, and strangers can be admitted only
upon application to a Subscriber or the Superin
tendant.

15

90

THE
CORPORATION,
PRESENT STATE OF THE TOWN, &c.

The period at which this town was first incor
porated does not appear to be accurately known.
It is at present governed under a charter, granted
by King James I, in the fourth year of his reign.
Two years afterwards, that monarch gave the re
version of the houses, tithes, and glebes, called the
Almoner's Barns, and of the fairs and markets of
the town, in fee farm; the reversion of the gaol,
with the office of gaoler, belonging to the liberties of
Bury ; and also the toll house, now the market cross,
in present possession. In the twelfth year of his
reign, King James was further pleased to give the
churches, with the bells, libraries, and other ap
purtenances; also the rectories, oblations, and pro
fits of the same churches not formerly granted. He
much enlarged the liberties of the corporation, for
the better government ofthe town; and, at the same
time, he confirmed, to the feoffees of Bury, all the
lands and possessions which had been given or be
queathed by former benefactors.*
* The donations, &c. in lands, houses, and money, for pub
lic and charitable purposses, in this town, are very considerable.
vide Appendix, No. I.

91
The government of the town is vested in the hands
of an Alderman, who is the chief magistrate; a
Recorder; twelve Capital Burgesses (out of which
body, the Alderman is annually elected) and twenty-
four Burgesses of the Common Council. Six of the
twelve Capital Burgesses are Assistant Justices,
and one holds the office of Coroner. These thirty-
six Burgesses enjoy the sole right of returning two
members to parliament.
The armorial bearings of the Abbey, displayed
in a vignette at the commencement of this volume,
have been adopted by the corporation. They are as
follows : —
Azure, three crowns, Or ; each transfixed with two arrows,
saltierwise, Argent.
Crest. — On a helmet on a wreath, Or and Azure, a wolf
seiant, proper, holding a king's head, couped proper, crowned
Or, mantled Gules and Argent.*
The market days at Bury are Wednesday and
Saturday: the former, which is the more con
siderable, is chiefly for corn; but both of them are
abundantly supplied with provisions of all sorts.
* This crest, which, the reader will perceived, is allusive to
the story of St. Edmund's head having been found by a wolf,
in a wood, at Hoxne, is on the fonts of the churches, and in
other places in the town. — "According to Reymer, Fuller,
Tanner, and Edmondson, this monastery bore for its arms,
azure, three ducal crowns two and one or; which were the
arms of King Edmund. In the manuscript life of this saint
by John Lydgate the monk of Bury, written temp. Henry VI.
is an illuminated representation of one of the banners which
was said to have been borne by King Edmund in his wars. It

92
Bury has three annual fairs: the first, on the
Tuesday and two following days in Easter week;
the second, October 2d, and tbe third, on the 1st
of December, for two or three days. The Al
derman, for the time being, is Lord of the fairs,
and has a right to prolong them at his pleasure.
The secqnd fair, which is the principal, and
probably the more ancient, generally continues
about three weeks. The charter, for it, was granted
by King Henry III. to the Abbot, in the year 1272;
and it was formerly one of the most celebrated marls
in the kingdom. During the fair, Bury was the
resort of persons of the highest distinction, for
whom the abbot kept an open table : people of in
ferior' rank were entertained by the monks in the
refectory. Mary, the widowed Queen of France,
came every year from her residence at Westhorpe,
with her noble consort, the Duke of Suffolk, to
attend this mart. She had a magnificient tent, for
the reception of the numerous distinguished per
sonages who resorted thither to pay their respects
to her, and a band of music for their diversion.
was the royal arms, afterwards adopted by the monastery, the
three crowns signifying, according to the poet, ' royal dignity,
virginity, and martyrdom.' "-^The arrows transfixing the crowns
were introduced by the monk3, to commemorate the martyrdoifl
of their patron.  " In Rice's Suffolk Collections, another coat
of arms is ascribed to one of the greater obedientiaries of tbe
abbey, of St. Edmund's Bury, viz. Asure, three pair of keys
adorned in triangle or." — Vide " Index Monastkus," by Richard
Taylor, of Norwich, folio, 1821, p. 78.

93
The fair was then held, as it always has been, on
the extensive space' called the Angel Hill, where
different rows of booths were assigned to the ma
nufacturers of London,. Norwich, Ipswich, Col
chester, and other towns, and even to some foreigners,
particularly the Dutch. These rows of booths re
ceived the names of streets ; such as London street,
Norwich street, &c. from the respective towns, by
whose traders they were occupied. In point of
trade, Bury fair, in common with most others, has
greatly declined within the last century; but it is
still a place of very fashionable resort; and mer
chandise, and goods of various kinds, especially
fancy articles, find a considerable sale.
This town, in its present state, including the
suburbs, is about a mile and a half in length, from
south to north, and a mile and a quarter broad, from
east to west. The general division of the town, into
two parishes, runs down the middle of Abbey-gate
street. From its situation, upon a rising ground
and a sandy soil, the streets are always very clean.
Previously, however, to the year 1811, when an
act of parliament was obtained, for the purpose of
extending to the whole town, tlie advantages of pa
ving, lighting, and watching, most of, them were
paved with pebbles; Abbey-gate street being the only
one that had a foot way, on each side, of flag stones.
— It is believed to be peculiar to this town, that the
inhabitants invariably place the definite article, the,
before the names of all their streets.

94
The population of Bury has been constantly in
creasing, within the last four or five centuries. In
the year 1377 (51 Edward III.) the number of in
habitants was 3,500; in the reign of Edward VI,
tliere were "about 3,000 housling persons." In
Queen Elizabeth's reign, when the town petitioned
for a charter to choose representatives for parliament,
there were said to be, 4,000 communicants — mean
ing, probably, such persons as were of a proper age
to receive the sacrament; in 1757, the population of
St. Mary's parish, was 3,122, that of St. James's
2,697, making an aggregate of 5,819; in 1775, the
entire population was found to be 7,135 ; in 1801,
the population of St. Mary's parish, was 4,090, of
St. James's 3,565, making an aggregate of 7,655.
According to the last parliamentary census, taken
in the year 1811, the total population of St. Mary's
parish, was 4,206, that of St. James, 3,780, making a
total of 7,986. — In 1775, the number of houses was
1,294; in 1801, 1,360; in 1811 (including 30 that
were uninhabited) 1,500. The number of families,
in 1801, was 1,648; in 1811, 1,681; of which 164
were returned as chiefly employed in agriculture,
966 in trade, &c. and 551 not included in either of
those classes. The present population is estimated
at 8,500.
The town of Bury had five gates, all of which
were standing about the year 1766, when they were
taken down, by order of the corporation, to afford
a more convenient passage for carriages. At each

95
of these gates was, anciently, an hospital, or some
religious foundation, or both, as at the East-gate,
the South-gate, and Rishy-gate.
Near the north-gate, on the east side, contiguous
to the Thetford road, are the ruins of St. Saviour's
hospital, the most celebrated establishment of the
kind in Bury. It was in this building, as already
stated, that Humphrey the Good Duke of Gloucester
is believed to have been murdered.* The space for
* The following is extracted from a poem by Ferrers, in the
2nd Vol. of the " Mirror for Magistrates," 1815, eutitled,
" Howe Hvmfrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester Protector
of England, during the minority of his nephue King Henry
the sixt, (commonly called the good Duke) by practise of ene-
myes was brought to confusion,"
Dead was I found by such as best did know
The maner how the same was brought to passe,
And then my corps was set out for a show,
By view whereof nothing perceiued war : f
Whereby the worlde may see as in a glasse,
Th'vnsure state of them that stand most hye,
Which than dread least, when daunger is most nye.
And also see what daunger they are in,
Which next theyr king are to succede in place:
Since kinges most part bee ielous of theyr kynne,
Whome I aduise, forewarned by my case,
To beare low sayle, and not too much embrace
The people's loue: for as Senec sayth truly:
O quam funestus est fauor populi,
t A parliament was somoued to be kept at Bery, whether resorted
all the peres ofthe realme, and emongest them the dake of Gloucester,
whiche on the second daie of the session was by the lord Beamonde,

96
the entrance, which appears to have been originally
adorned with a stately portal, is yet distinguishable,
as are the fragments of a large window above. Part
of the wall, which surrounded the hospital and its
offices, also remains. A little beyond St. Saviour's
hospital, on the left of the Thetford road, stood
St. Thomas's hospital, or chapel, now a private
dwelling, occupied by Mrs. Harrington. About
half a mile beyond St. Saviour's hospital, stood the
Friary, the site of which may yet be traced. — On
the west side of North-gate street, near the gate-
space, is an ancient Brick gate-way, supposed to
have been the entrance of a parsonage house.
The arches in the east wall of the monastery, de
scribed by Grose, were intended to serve as a water
course, and perhaps also as an occasional foot bridge,
by means of planks laid from one projecting buttress
to another. Just over the bridge, on the south side
of the road leading to Ixworth, are some slight re
mains of St. Mary's chapel. — Not far from the east-
gate, stood St. Nicholas's hospital, the remains of
which have been some time occupied as a farm
then highe constable of Englande, accompanied with the dake cf
Buckyngham, and other, arrested, apprehended, and put in warde,
and all his seruanntes sequestred from hym, and xxxii of the chiofeof
his retinae, were sente to diuerse prisons, to the greate admiracion of
the common people. The duke tbe night after hys emnrisonemenl,
ivas found dedde in his hed, and his body shewed to the lordes and
commons, as thoaghe he had died of a palsey or empostome: bot all
indifferent persons Well knewe that he died of no natural death, bo* of
some violent force. Hall.

REMAINS OF ST. PETRONILtA S HOSPITAL, BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

97
house. A little to the westward, the chapel be
longing to the hospital has been converted into a
barn and stable. On the north side of the road,
between this hospital and East-gate bridge, a few
fragments of wall indicate the site of St. Stephen's
hospital. Just without the south-gate, was the hospital of
St. Petronilla. This structure has long been de
molished. The eastern window of the chapel, of
beautiful tracery, was a few years since purchased,
for building-stone, by P. Bennet, Esq. who has
preserved it, for future admiration, by placing it at
the west end of his chapel farm, in East-gate street,
formerly St. Nicholas's hospital. The hospital,
which, from its site, appears to have been an ex
tensive building, stood at the south side of the
chapel. Parts of the walls, serving for fences, still
remain. A small piece of ground, between the
chapel and the hospital, is supposed to have been
the cemetery of the establishment.
Near the west-gate, stood a hermitage, the re
mains of which are now used as a cow house. Here
also stood our Lady's chapel, of which not even the
site is now visible.
Close to Risby-gate, stood a Chantry, called
Stone chapel, now the Cock public house, the curious
flint-stone walls of which are entitled to the ad
miration of the antiquary. Some distance beyond
the gate, on the left hand side of the road, is the site
of St. Peter's hospital, at which infirm and leprous
K

98
priests were sup-ported. Near the gate-space, is an
octangular stone, supposed to be the pedestal of
one of the crosses which originally indicated the
boundary of the abbot's jurisdiction. About the
year 1677, Bury market was held without Risby-
gate, because the small pox raged in the town.
The cavity at the top of this stone was then filled
with vinegar, in which the country people, resorting
to the market, were accustomed to wash their
money, to avoid infection.
The town of Bury appears to have enjoyed the
benefit of a free school at a very early period.
Abbot Sampson, in the year 1198, erected a school
house, and settled a stipend on the master, whose
duty was to instruct, gratuitously, 40 poor boys. This
building stood near St. Margaret's church, now the
Shire hall, and the street received from it the name
of School Hall street, which it still retains. The
free gramniar school, founded by Edward VI. seems
to have been a revival of Abbot Sampson's institution.
Its original situation was in East-gate street; but,
as that was found inconvenient, a new school-house
was erected in North-gate street, by public con
tribution. Over the door, in front of the building,
is the bust of the royal founder; and, under his
arms, at the upper end of the school room, are the
following lines : —
Edvardus Sextus posuit, virtutis alumnis
Gratis duce puer, regia namque schola est.

99
The school is free for the sons of all inhabitants.
There are nearly 100 scholars on the foundation;
and the number of private pupils is considerable.
Adjoining the school is a handsome house for the
upper master.*
There are three charity schools in Bury, in one
of which 40 boys, and in the two others 50 girls,
are clothed and instructed in the English language.
Exclusively of collections and occasional gifts, there
is a^settled fund of £70 per ann. towards defraying
the expense of these establishments. — In the central
schools at Bury, established by " The Suffolk So
ciety for the Education of the Poor in the Principles
of the Established Church," there were, according
to the report of the Society, for the year 1819, 157
boys, and 80 girls. Upwards of 20 boys also at
tended the central schools, as Sunday scholars. A
school, on the Lancasterian plan, was opened in
College street, in the year 1811, and about 200 boys
were admitted. — A Sunday school, to which the
late Mr. Spink left a handsome legacy, has been
discontinued. Amongst the charitable institutions of this town,
must be mentioned Clopton's Hospital, a handsome
brick building, with projecting wings, which was
' founded, and endowed, in the year 1730, pursuant
to the will of the late Poley Clop ton, M. D. as an

* The present head master is B. H. Malkin, Esq. LL. D. a
gentleman well known to the literary world.

100
asylum for 12 poor men and women, widowers and
widows, three of each sex out of each parish. The
participants must have been housekeepers, upwards
of 60 years of age, who have paid scot and lot, and
received no parochial relief. In the front of the
building, are the founder's arms, with a Latin in
scription, recording the date and object of the in
stitution. The following epitaph, to the memory of
Mr. Clopton^-is in the Church of Foxearth, in
Essex:— Here lies
Foley Clopton, M. D.
aman
Skilled in almost every art of literature ;
But in those studies,
That either instruct or adorn the Physician,
Superior to most men.
This excellent man knew well the various
Calamities and Misfortunes
of the human race : he knew also what it was
to have both ability and inclination
to relieve the Wretched.
To assist the Poor
was his chief concern ;
But how kind, how compassionate, he was to those oppressed
with Age and Poverty
(Whom he always held dear to him)
His last will abundantly proves ;
For he left the annual Rent for ever of J300. by far
the greatest part of his estate, for the support of
twelve poor people belonging to St. Eds. Bury in the
County of Suffolk; a Monument this of piety to God and
benevolence to men, that will endure to endless ages.
He died Oct. 31, 1730, Aged 56.

101
The Shire hall, which, as already stated, occupies
the site of the ancient church of St. Margaret, is -a
building of modern erection, containing two con
venient courts for the trial of criminal and civil
causes. The entrance to the crown court, is from
the church yard; that to the nisi prius court, from
the street. In the year 1804, and again in 1818,
great improvements were effected in the accom
modation of these courts.
The Guild Hall, belonging to the Guild Hall
Feoffment, and not to the Corporation, and which
gives name to the street in which it stands, has not
much the appearance of a. public edifice. The
modern alterations which have been made in the body
of the building, are utterly at variance with its
ancient porch of flint, brick, and stone. Here the
town sessions are held, the parliamentary repre
sentatives of the corporation are elected, and the
general business of the Borough is transacted. Over
the entrance, is a chamber, in which, under three
keys, in the custody of the Recorder, the Senior
Feoffee, and the Alderman for the time being, the
archives of the town are kept.
The old county gaol was situated in the market
place. The new gaol, which, in Mr. Buxton's very
popular pamphlet "On Prison Discipline," published
in the year 1819, is spoken of in terms of the highest
praise, for situation, construction, and management,
stands nearly a mile from the centre of the town, on
the London road. This edifice, " which by the "recent
K5

102
improvements has a magnificent stone front, wrought
in rustic, was completed in 1805. The buildings
are enclosed by a boundary wall, twenty feet high,
of an irregular octagon form, the diameter being
292 feet. Four of the sides are one hundred and
ninety two feet each, and the other four seventy feet
and a half. The entrance is the turnkey's lodge.
The keeper's house, also an irregular octagon build
ing, is situated in the centre of the prison, raised
six steps above the level of the other buildings, and
so placed that all the court yards, as well as the en
trance to the gaol, are under constant inspection.
The prison consists of four wings, sixty nine feet by
thirty two; three of these are divided by a partition
wall along the centre ; and the fourth is parted into
three divisions; by which means the different classes
of prisoners are cut off from all communication with
each other. The chapel is in the centre of the
keeper's house, up one pair of stairs; stone galleries
lead to it from the several wings, and it is par
titioned off, so that each class is separated the same
as in the prison."
Agreeably to a resolution passed at the quarter ses
sions in the early part of the year 1819, the prison
has been enlarged to facilitate the important object
of giving employment to the respective prisoners;
to separate juvenile delinquents of both sex from
the adults; to form hospitals for the sick; and erect
brewing and baking offices for the whole con
sumption of the gaol.

103
A mill, upon a most excellent construction, has
lately been erected in this goal, on which the
prisoners are employed in grinding corn and ma
nufacturing flour: it is worked by means of four
wheels, of inconsiderable diameter, extending on the
right and left of the machinery, to a length equal
to the employment of eighty-four men, who work
in four distinct and separate classes, and without
any one class communicating with the other.
The distinguishing character of the mill is, that
it requires no previous instruction, and a possibility
does not exist that any one can do less than his pro
per portion of the work.
The earnings of the prisoners employed by the
county are thus divided: two-fifths to the county,
one-fifth to the governor, and two-fifths to the
prisoners. The house of correction, nearly adjoining the gaol,
is in some measure consolidated with that establish
ment. It is bounded by a separate wall, inclosing
about an acre of ground, and the prison stands in
the centre. This is a square building, having the
keeper's house in front. The keeper of the gaol and
house of correction, has a salary of £500 per annum,
besides perquisites and fees, and an allowance for
assistants; and they have a chaplain at a salary of
£100, and surgeon, with a yearly salary of £60. Mr.
Nield, who visited most of our prisons some years
ago, says — " in the appointment of a gaoler, I con
sider the county particularly fortunate in their choice

101
of Mr. Orridge; who, to great abilities, unites
firmness and humanity in the discharge of his im
portant trust." Mr. Orridge still holds his office,
with, if possible, increased esteem. — In the year
1819, in consequence of the celebrity of Bury gaol,
Mr. Orridge was honoured with the commands of
the Emperor of Russia, to furnish him with plans
of the building, its internal regulations, etc. which
have lately been published in a handsome, thin,
quarto volume.
The Borough Bridewell stands on what is called
Hog Hill, or the beast market, and was formerly a
Jewish synagogue; it is called, in old writings, Moyse
(Moses's) Hall. It is built upon arches; and its
walls, faced with stone, are of great solidity. From
its circular windows, it is evidently very ancient;
of a date probably almost as remote as the con
quest. Its dimensions are 36 feet by 27. The sculp
ture, under one ofthe windows, is deserving of notice.
Opposite the market cross, stand the butchery
and new shambles, which are built of free-stone.
George, the second Earl of Bristol, contributed
£400 towards the finishing of these buildings,
which were completed in 1761.
The wool halls, in which great quantities of wool
used annually to be deposited, when that article
formed the principal source of employment of the
poorer inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood,
are situated at the upper side of the market place,
at the lower end of St, Andrew's street.

105
The subscription rooms, which were completed
in a very elegant style, at an expense of nearly
£5,000, about the year 1804, occupy the south side
of the open square, termed the Angel Hill. On
the east side, facing the street, are six large hand
some windows ; and, on the opposite side, is a very
large semicircular recess between two fire-places.
The ball-room is well proportioned, 73 feet in
length, 37 in breadth, and 29 in height. The supper
room, is 37 feet by 24; the billiard room, 29 feet
by 18; and the coffee room, 28 feet by 18. The es
tablishment contains also a reading room, several
card rooms, &c. The whole is supported by about
150 subscribers, and conducted by a committee of
five gentlemen. — The three balls, which are held
annually, during the great fair, in October, are at
tended by all the nobility and fashion of the county.
There are four or five balls in the winter, which are
also supported exclusively by the higher classes.
The Angel Inn, one of the most conspicuous
buildings in the town, and the first estabUshment of
the kind, in the county, stands on the west side of
the Angel Hill. The spacious vaults beneath are
supposed to have belonged to the abbey, with which
they evidently had a subterraneous communication.
— The charnel house of the abbey is also thought to
have been in these vaults. — The Angel Inn was given,
with some small tenements, and pieces of ground,
by William Tassel, Esq. partly towards the main-
tainence of the curates, and partly for the repair of

106
the churches, to ease the inhabitants. It may here
be remarked-, that the north side of the Angel Hill,
the Cook Row (now called Abbey-gate street) &c.
still bear signs of having been used in former times
for the domestic purposes ofthe abbey. Belonging
to the house, at the corner of Cook Row, are some
cellars, supposed to have served as kitchens to the
abbey, in which are several ovens, a chimney, &c.
The Suffolk Public Library, situated in Abbey-
gate street, was formed by the union of two similar
institutions, the one founded in 1790, and the other
in 1795. The number of subscribers is about 170,
and the sum expended annually in the purchase of
books is about £150. This library contains many
very valuable standard works.
A handsome theatre was erected here, in the year
1780, on the site of the old market cross, from a
design by Mr. Robert Adams; of whose taste, and
architectural skill, it may be regarded as a beautiful
specimen. The structure is of white brick, with
the ornamental parts of free-stone. The under part
of the building, which is open, is, as was the mar
ket cross formerly, appropriated to the use of the
farmers and corn merchants. The Earl of Bristol,
who contributed so liberally towards the erection of
the shambles, gave £500, towards the building of
this theatre. Of late years, however, it was thought
to be too small; and, as it possessed some other in
conveniences, a piece of ground was purchased in
the winter of 1818, for the purpose of building a

107
new theatre, in the southern part of the town. This
building, from a design by Mr. Wilkin, the architect,
and proprietor, was completed, and opened for pub
lic performance, in the month of October, 1819.
The Bury theatre is occupied by the Norwich com
pany, under the management of Messrs. Smith and
Bellamy. The season is, during the great fair. —
The old theatre is now occasionally occupied as a
ball-room, &c.
Near the southern entrance of the town, stands
the military depot, a brick edifice, with two small
detached buildings, erected during the late war.
The Unitarians' meeting house, is a modern struc
ture, situated in Church-gate street. The Baptists'
meeting house is in Lower Baxter street, and that
for the Independents in Whiting street. The So
ciety of Friends, called Quakers, have a meeting
house in the Long Brakeland.
We shall close the present section, with remark
ing, that, the river Larke has been rendered
navigable to within a mile of the town. The in
habitants, however, derive little benefit from it, in
proportion to what they might receive from its ex
tension. Various plans have been, and still are,
in contemplation, to effect this object; but, the
clashing of individual interests seems likely to
prevent any solid advantage from being obtained,

108

PRINCIPAL SEATS,
AND
VILLAGES,
WITHIN A CIRCUIT OF EIGHT MILES,
ROUND
BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

AMPTON.— The village of Ampton, anciently
a lordship of the Abbot of Bury, 4 miles and a
quarter N. E. from the town, is now the property of
Lord Calthorpe. The park of Ampton Hall, and
that of Livermere, belonging to Nathaniel Lee
Acton, Esq. adjoin; and the owners, of the two
estates have cut a noble serpentine river through
both, at their joint expense, and built a large hand
some bridge over it; by which means, they have or
namented their grounds in a manner which would
otherwise have been impracticable. In one part
of Mr. Lee Acton's park, advantage has been taken
of tliis stream to plant a romantic shrubbery on its
banks, the effect of which is eminently beautiful.
A comfortable almshouse, at Ampton, was founded
and endowed, by Mrs. Dorothy Calthorpe, a maiden
lady, for poor unmarried women.
BARROW.— At Barrow, 6 miles W. from Bury,
are the ruins of a noble seat, successively inhabited
by the families of Badlesmere and Tibetot. Barrow

109
church contains the monument of Sir Clement
Higham, the last Catholic Speaker of the House of
Commons. The Rev. Dr. Francis, the translator
of Horace, was rector of this parish.
BARTON. In the parish of Great Barton, 3
miles N. E. by E. from Bury (to the Abbot of which
it formerly belonged) is the seat of Sir Henry
Bunbury, Bart, the gardens and pleasure grounds
of whicli, are laid out with great taste. The rooms,
particularly the library, are adorned with many
fine pictures, by the most celebrated artists, also
many original designs from the pencil of the late
Colonel Bunbury.
BRADFIELD. Bradfield Combust, 5 miles and
a half S. E. by S. from the town, is supposed to
have received the second part of its name from the
destruction, by fire, of the manor house, in the year
1327. The mansion then belonged to the monastery,
and was burned to the ground, in the violent attack
which was made by the townsmen on the abbey and
its possessions. — Bradfield Hall was the birth placed
and residence, of the late Arthur Young, Esq. the
celebrated agriculturist, whose estate here was
the scene of many experiments, detailed in his
"Annals of Agriculture." It is situated on a high-
ridge of land, and is finely adorned with valuable
and promising timber. An avenue of limes, nearly
a century old, and about 40,000 larch trees, have
L

110
been planted, to form a nursery for oaks. This useful
member of society, having lived to attain an age
almost patriarchal, continued to reside on his estate,
and, although deprived of sight, to labour in for
warding the pursuits of a society to which he was
Secretary, the object of which engaged his attention
for many years. Mr. Young died, universally
lamented, in the early part of the year 1820. The
neighbouring church of Bradfield St. George,
though only 66 feet high, affords a view of 60 other
churches, so elevated is its site.
CULFORD. Culford, 5 miles N. E. from the
town, formerly a demesne of the Abbey, is the
chief country residence of the Marquis Cornwallis,
into whose family it came by marriage with Sir
Nathaniel Bacon, Bart. The mansion, built in
1591, by Sir Nicholas Bacon, the first Baronet of
England, was considerably improved and beautified
by the late Noble Marquis. It is agreeably situated
in a park, the picturesque beauty of which is
increased by a light and elegant iron bridge over
an artificial canal. The small, but respectable
church of this village, built by Sir Stephen Fox,
contains an interesting monument of Sir Nathaniel
Bacon. The chancel is separated from the body by a
low screen of openwork. Close to the church yard,
is a free school, a neat building erected by the pre
sent Marchioness, conducted on the Lancastrian
System. The good effect of the attention she has

Ill
so constantly bestowed personally on this excellent
establishment, is already visible in the conduct of
the younger part of the inhabitants of the village.
DEPDEN. The little village of Depden, con
taining about 30 houses, 7 miles and a quarter S. W.
from Bury, is remarkable only as the birth place of
Dr. Anthony Sparrow, Bishop of Norwich, in the
latter part of the seventeenth century.
DRINKSTONE. At Drinkstone, 8 miles E.
by S. from Bury, is the seat of Joshua Grigby, Esq.
surrounded by plantations, tastefully disposed. The
rectory house, built about the year 1760, is con
sidered one of the best in the county.
ST. EDMUND'S HILL. On this spot, in the im
mediate vicinity of Bury, an elegant seat was built
in the year 1773, by John Symonds, LL. D.
Mr. Adam was the architect. Few spots in Suffolk
command so delightful and extensive a prospect.
FORNHAM. Fornham all Saints, 2 miles and
three-quarters N. N. W. from the town, is the lord
ship of Sir Thomas Rookwood Gage, Bart. Out
of lands in this parish, Penelope Countess Rivers,
who had the singular fortune to marry in succession
three gentlemen who had been her suitors at the
same time, gave a rent charge of £8 per ann. that a
sermon against popery might be preached four times

112
a year at Bury. Near Fornhasm, as stated in the
early part of this volume, a hattle was fought by
Edward, son of king Alfred, with Ethelwold, his
cousin, whom he defeated,
HARDWICK. Hardwick, a hamlet to Haw
sted, is situated one mile S. of Bury. Sir Robert
Drury, who died in 1615, founded an almshouse
here, for six poor single women, to whom he al
lotted an annual revenue of £5 each; two of them,
to be taken from Bury, one from Hawsted, one
from Brockley, one from Whepstead, one from
Reed, and one from Chedburgh, alternately.—
Hardwick house, the property of the Cullum family,
is annexed for ever to the manor of Hawsted.
The Rev. Sir John Cullum, in his elegantly written
History of Hawsted, mentions the existence of a
custom, gimilar to one in Cornwall, which he saw
twice practised in the garden of Hardwick House ;
that of drawing a child, head foremost, naked,
through a cleft tree, for the cure of rickets, rup
tures, &c. This estate appears to have been given by
King Stephen to the Abbey of Bury ; and, according
to tradition, it was the abbot's dairy, and one of
his occasional residences. It was purchased by
Sir Robert Drury, in 1610. The mansion, which is
not of great antiquity, is situated upon the very line
which divides the open and woodland country; and,
from its elevation, it commands a pleasing view
of the town and neighbourhood of B«ry-

113
HAWSTED. The manor of Hawsted, 3 miles
and a half S. W. from Bury, was given by Edward
the Confessor, to the Abbey: succeeding lords of
the manor were the family of Fitz-Eustace, and the
Cloptons, by whom it was alienated to the Drurys,
a distinguished family, of one of whom Fuller ob
serves that, " as his name, in the Saxon language,
signifies a pearl, so he might fitly be compared to
one for preciousness, being hardy, innocent, and
valiant." In 1656, the interest of the house of
Drury ceased at Hawsted, after 190 years' con
tinuance; Thomas Cullum, Esq. having purchased
the estate for £17,697. Sir Thomas Gery Cullum
is the present proprietor. Hawsted House, situated
on an eminence, is supposed to have been built in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This edifice encloses
a quadrangle, and is built, chiefly, of timber and
plaster, which latter is of so durable a nature, that
two centuries have produced few marks of decay.
Between the porches, on which the arms of Drury
remain, is a stone figure of Hercules, supposed,
from the date upon the pedestal, to have been one
of the embellishments -preparatory for the reception
of Queen Elizabeth, who honoured this place with
her presence, in 1578. The church of Hawsted,
built of freestone, and inlaid with flints, seems to
have been erected at the beginning ofthe sixteenth
century. The lower part of the steeple displays some
elegant specimens of inlaying, in the figures of mul
lets, -quatre-foils, and interlaced triangles. In the
L5

114
interior, some figures of angels, and other carved
work, about the roof, were defaced by the puritans,
in the seventeenth century. The windows of the
chancel were enriched with stained glass, much of
which was destroyed by the same barbaric ravagers.
The monuments here are numerous and ancient.
An arched recess, in the wall of the chancel, con
tains a cross-legged figure, of stone, supposed to
represent one of the Fitz-Eustace family, who were
lords of the manor, in the reign of Edward I.
A slab, in the body of the church, covers the re
mains of Roger Drury, Esq. who died in 1500.
A flat stone, near the altar, bears the portraiture of
a lady, in the costume of the time of Henry VII.
It appears, from the escutcheon, that this figure
was intended to represent Ursula, fourth daughter
of Sir Robert Drury. The entablature of an altar
tomb, of Sussex marble, is adorned with a brazen
portrait of a knight, in armour, with portraits of his
two wives. The neck and wrists of the former have
ruffles, and his armour is flourished with a different
metal : his whiskers and parted beard are long.
The figures of the women are habited alike, though
one died 40 years before her husband, and the pther
survived him, as her open 3yes indicate. A long
epitaph, in black letter, informs us that this mo
nument was intended to commemorate " Syr Wyllm
Drury, knyght," who died in 1557. In the chancel,
is a fine bust, in armour, of Sir William Drur}',
who was slain in 1589, in a duel. A mural mo-

115
nument, in the chancel, commemorates the lady,
of whom Dr. Donne said,
" Her pure and eloquent blood
Spoke in her cheeks, and so distinctly wrought,
That one might almost say her body thought."
On this tablet, a female figure is represented,
with her head reclining on her left hand, on which
figure another is scattering flowers. ' This lady, the
daughter of Sir Robert Drury, died in 1610, at the
early age of 15; and tradition adds, that she had
been destined for the wife of Prince Henry, eldest
son of James I. A fine mural monument, opposite
to the last, to the memory of Sir Robert Drury,
consists of a basement and sarcophagus; "beneath
a double arch, on which is the bugt in armour, of
Sir Robert, finely executed by Nicholas Stone.
A large mural monument, in honour of Sir Thomas
Cullum, Bart, consists of a basement and sar
cophagus, from which rise two square, fluted Ionic
pillars, supporting an entablature, and a large es
cutcheon. — The Rev. Sir John Cullum, a former
proprietor and rector of Hawsted, wrote the history
of this place and its antiquities.*
HENGRAVE. Hengrave is 3 miles and three-
quarters N. N. W. from Bury. Hengrave Hall, a
* The Rev. Author here mentioned, gives the following ac
count of himself. — "He was born 21st of June, 1733, and educated
at Bury School, whence he went to Catherine Hall, Cambridge,
of viftiich, after having taken the degrees of bachelor, aud

116
fine specimen ofthe antique mansion, is the property
of Sir Thomas Gage, whose ancestor, Edward
Gage, Esq. created a baronet, in 1662, had five
wives, and died at the age of ninety. This building
encloses a court, which is overlooked by many win
dows, embellished with stained glass: one, in par
ticular, contains some fine exemplars of armorial
bearings, and is adorned with tracery in the style of
Henry the seventh's chapel. The gate-way is
singularly beautiful, and in high preservation. This
mansion afforded an asylum, a few years since, to
a convent of expatriated nuns, whose superior, a
descendant of Sir Thomas More, died there. A
small church, near the hall, contains the monuments
of John Bouchier, Earl of Bath, and of his son
John, Lord Fitz- Warren, with several ofthe Kitson
and Gage families, lords of the manor. A fine
marble tomb supports the effigies of Sir Thomas
Kitson, founder of Hengrave Hall, and of his wife.
This gentleman was born of obscure parents, at
Yealland, in Lancashire, and, having acquired
great wealth by trade, was knighted.
HORNINGSHEATH. This place, commonly
master of arts, he was elected fellow, 7th of Dec. 1759. In March
1774, he became a member of the Society of Antiquaries; in
December that year, was instituted to the living of Great
Thurlow, in this county ; in March 1775, was elected a fellow of
the Royal Society; and in this year, 1784, is innocently, at
least, amusing himself, in compiling the history, such as it is,
of his native place."

117
called Horringer, formerly belonged to Hie Abbey,
from which it is distant 2 miles S. W. Its two
parishes, Magna and Parva, were consolidated in
the sixteenth century. In the principal chamber of
Little Horningsheath Hall, which was one of the
pleasure-houses of the Abbot, his arms, carved and
painted, with those of Edward the confessor, were
to be seen more thai a century after the dissolution.
This village has lately been considerably beautified
by the elegant villa formed by A. Brooks, Esq.
The phurcfa was, in 1820, thoroughly repaired, and
covered with stucco, and the interior fitted up with
peculiar neatness, by the same gentleman, to whom
a tablet is appropriately inscribed. The neat
gardens before the cottages, and the picturesque
situation of the village, render it one of the most
favorite spots round Bury.
ICKWORTH. Ickworth, 2 miles and a half
S. W. from Bury, formerly belonged to the Abbey,
by the gift of Theodred, bishop of London. Ick?
worth park, which now occupies the whole of the
parish, is the property of Frederick William, the
fifth Earl of Bristol, who succeeded his father in
the year 1803. This noble estate, which came into
the Hervey family, by marriage with that of Drury,
is eleven miles in circumference, and contains 1800
acres. The mansion is not remarkable; but an
edifice, projected by the late Earl, and intended for

118
the reception of the works of arts, which he had
collected, claims the attention and regret of be
holders. The central part of this building, circular,
and connected with the wings by a colonnade, is 140
feet high, and crowned by a cupola, 90 feet in dia
meter. The lower apartments are adorned with co
lumns of the Ionic, and the upper, of the Corinthian
order. Over the windows of the latter, are sculp
tured subjects from the Iliad, in basso relievo; and,
over the principal entrance, the scene of Alexander
presenting Bucephalus to Philip, with a represen
tation of the Olympic games on each side. The
windows of the first story are surmounted by a series
of bass-reliefs, from the Odyssey. The wings are
in an unfinished state, as is the interior of the centre.
It is the intention of the noble owner, to complete
the design of his predecessor, to a certain extent.
The library has been recently fitted up at £3000
expense, and contracts for other parts of the build
ing are entered into. The sum of £60,000 has been
already expended on this edifice.
IX WORTH. At the little market town of
Ixworth, 7 miles N. E. from Bury, was formerly a
priory of canons regular of St. Augustin, situated
in a pleasant valley near the river Thet, and de
dicated to the Virgin Mary. A neat mansion, built
by the Norton family, occupies the site of the
priory.

119
LIVERMERE. In the chancel of Great Liver-
mere church, 9 miles and a half N. N. E. from
Bury, lie the Rev. William Martin, father of the
celebrated antiquary, " Honest Tom Martin, of
Palgrave." At Little Livermere, half a mile fur
ther, is the seat of N. Lee Acton, Esq. mentioned in
our brief notice of Ampton, in a preceding page.
The benefices of Great and Little Livermere are
consolidated. RISBY. This place, 3 miles and three-quarters
N. W. by W. from Bury, is remarkable only for the
steeple of its church, which is supposed to be of
Danish origin.
ROUGHAM. Rougham, 4 miles and a half
S. S. E. from Bury, was given to the abbey by Earl
Ulfketel, and granted by Henry VII to Sir Arthur
Drury, in whose family it continued till 1640.
Rougham Hall is now the property of P. Bennet,
Esq. High Sheriff of the County of Suffolk, in the
year 1821. The old mansion is to be pulled down,
on the completion of a new one, commenced in the
year 1819. At the north-east corner of the chureh,
is an ancient monument of Sir Roger Drury and his
lady, the daughter of Sir Robert Naunton, with
their effigies, and a black letter inscription in brass.
It bears the date of 1400, and is supposed to be the
most ancient existing monument of the Drurys.
The manor of Eldo, in this parish, granted by

120
Henry VIII. to the Jermyn fainily, now belongs to
M. T. Cocksedge, Esq.
RUSHBROOK. Rushbrook, 4 miles S. S. E.
from Bury, formerly belonged to the abbey. The
fine spacious mansion, called Rushbrook Hall, once
the seat of the noble family of Jermyn, but now of
Robert Rushbrooke, Esq. whose ancestors possessed,
and derived their name from it, encloses three sides
of a quadrangle. It is moated, and surrounded by
an extensive park. In Queen Elizabeth's progress,
in 1578, " Sir Robert Jermyn, of Roesbroke, feasted
the French ambassadors, two several times, with
which charges and courtesie they stood marvellously
contented." In the church are several monuments
of the Jermyns.
SAXHAM. Saxham Magna, 4 miles and three-
quarters W. by S. from Bury, belonged, with the
advowson of the church, to the abbey. It was sub
sequently the property, for many years, of the
family of Eldred. The old manor house, called
Nutmeg Hall, built by John Eldred, in the reign
of James I. was accidentally destroyed by fire, in
the year 1779. The modern mansion, from a plan
by Mr. Adams, now belongs to Thomas Mills, Esq.
In the church, at the upper end of the chancel, on
the south side, is a bust of John Eldred, mentioned
above, as large as life. Under the bust is an in
scription, recording, in quaint prose, and equally

121
quaint verse, that the said John Eldred, who died
in the year 1632, at the age of 80, had his " first
being" at " New Buckingham, in Norfolk;" that,
"in Babilon he spent some part of his time;" and
that " the rest of his earthly pilgrimage hee spent
in London, and was alderman of that famous cittie."
Beneath the bust, is a raised monument, covered
with black marble ; on the top of which, very neatly
inlaid, in brass, is the figure of a man, about two
feet long, with a ruff and furred gown, well en
graven; with the arms of Eldred, Revett, and the
city of London, and those of the East India, Turkey,
and Russia companies. At his feet, on three brass
plates, aire other inscriptions, relating to the travels
of the deceased. Revett, the son of this John
Eldred, was created a baronet in 1641, and was
a considerable benefactor to the parish.
SAXHAM. Saxham Parva, 3 miles and a quar
ter W. from Bury, was long the seat ofthe Crofts,
one of whom, having suffered much in the Stuart
cause, and rendered great service to Charles II.
was, by that monarch, raised to the peerage, by
the title of Lord Crofts, of Saxham. This noble
man, who died without male issue, was interred
in the church, where an elegant altar monument
supports his effigies, in the dress of his day. The
windows of this edifice are adorned with stained
glass, principally coats- of arms of the Crofts
M

122
family. The tower, supposed to be Danish, is 56
feet high, and 59 in circumference. It is round,
embattled, and finely ornamented with frame-work.
STOWLANGTOFT. At Stowlangtoft, 8 miles
E. N. E. from Bury, is a mansion, once the pro
perty and residence of Sir Simonds d'Ewes, one of
the most profound antiquaries of the seventeenth
century. It is now the seat of Sir Geo. Wombwell.
The church, which is a handsome building, stands
in an area of a double trenched camp; and, in a
field near it was found, in 1764, a pot filled with
Roman coins of the lower empire. Some years ago,
in the adjoining parish of Pakenham, in a farm
called Red Castle, a fine tesselated pavement was
discovered. STOW. West Stow Hall, in the parish of that
name, 4 miles and a quarter N. N. W. from Bury,
was formerly the baronial residence of the Brandons,
Dukes of Suffolk, whose arms, with those of the
Princess Mary, wife of Charles Brandon, are yet
seen on the porch. The building, now much re
duced in size, is occupied as a farm house.
TROSTON. Troston Hall, 6 miles and three-
quarters N. N. E. from Bury, is the seat of Capel
Lofft, Esq. a gentleman of the Law, well known to
the literary world, as the patron of Bloomfield, the

123
poet. In his peculiar taste, he has inscribed the
trees about his venerable, yet cheerful residence,
with names of classic celebrity; and with others,
endeared by private friendship, or revered for
superior virtue. Edward Capel, the uncle of the
proprietor of Troston Hall, and author of " Notes
and various Readings of Shakespeare," was born
at this seat, in 1713. He spent twenty years in
editing a copy of the works of our great dramatist,
which he published in ten volumes.
WELNETHAM. At Welnetham, 3 miles and
three-quarters S. W. from Bury, were formerly
found many potsherds, and other remains of a pot
tery, supposed, from a sacrificing knife, some asms,
and the head of a spear, discovered at the same
time, to be Roman. Sir Richard Gipps, a re
spectable antiquary, resided here, and was interred
in the church.
WHEPSTEAD. Whepstead, 4 miles and a
quarter S.S. W. from Bury, belonged to the abbey,
and was granted by Henry VIII. to Sir William
Drury. It is now the property of Major General
Hammond, whose residence is at Plumpton Hall.
The spire of Whepstead church was blown down,
by the high wind at the death of Cromwell.
WOOLPIT. This is a considerable village, 8
miles E. by S. from Bury, on the' road to Ipswich.

124
A white kind of brick made here, almost equal in
beauty to stone, has supplied materials for some of
the finest, recently erected mansions in the county.
The church is Gothic, and has a remarkably beau
tiful south porch, but the spire is mean. It for
merly contained a shrine of the Virgin Mary, to
which, and to a spring, still called our Lady's
spring, many pilgrims resorted. From the number
of Roman coins discovered at this place, and other
circumstances, Dr. Gale is disposed to place the
Sitomagus of that people here, rather than at
Thetford. An enlarged Edition of this work is in contemplation,
wherein the Environs of Bury, for a circuit of 15
miles, will be more particularly described.

125

CELEBRATED PERSONS,

Amongst the many distinguished persons, to whom
the town of Bury St. Edmund's has had the honour
of giving birth, the following appear to be entitled
to particular notice.
Jocelin ofthe Brackland, from a street so called
in this town, where he was born, was a monk here
in 1214. He wrote a Chronicle of the Abbey, and
the Life of St. Robert, the boy whom the Jews
crucified in 1179.
John de Norwold, if not born at Bury, was
educated there, and at last appointed abbot. He
was engaged in the great controversy between
Robert Grostest and Pope Innocent IV. Although
a voluminous writer, the only work of his, now ex
tant, is his " Annals of England." He died in the
year 1301, and was buried in his conventual Church.
Richard de Aungervyle, or Richard de Bury,
was born in the year 1281, and educated at Oxford.
Having completed his studies, he entered into the
order of Benedictines, and was appointed tutor to
M 6

126
the Prince of Wales, afterwards Edward III. On
the accession of that monarch, he was appointed
cofferer, and, successively, Treasurer of the Ward
robe, Archdeacon of Northampton, Prebendary
of Lincoln, Sarum, and Lichfield, Keeper of the
Privy Seal, Dean of Wells, and, in 1333, Bishop
of Durham. In 1334, he was made Lord High
Chancellor, and in 1336, Treasurer of England.
The celebrated Petrarch was one of the luminaries
of the age, with whom this learned prelate corres
ponded. His lovet of literature induced him to
found a public library at Oxford, on the spot where
Trinity College now stands. At the period of the
dissolution, the books of this fine collection were
dispersed. Bishop Aungervyle wrote a book, en
titled " Philobiblos" (a manuscript copy of which
is still extant in the Cottonian collection) for the re
gulation of his library. It is said to have been
printed at Oxford, in the year 1599. The bishop
died in the year 1345, and was buried at Durham.
John Eversden, a monk who died in the year
1336, was an author of considerable celebrity in his
day. He excelled in the Belles Lettres, was a good
poet and orator, and a faithful historian.
Roger, surnamed the computist, who flourished
about the year 1360, was distinguished by his learn
ing and monastic virtues. He was prior of the
abbey. He wrote "An Exposition of all the dif
ficult Words throughout the Bible;" "Comments
on the Gospel," &c.

127
Henry Bederick, alias Bederickworth, an
Augustine Monk of the 14th Century, studied at
Paris, where he became a doctor of the Sorbonne,
and afterwards returned to England, where he was
much followed and admired for his eloquent preach
ing. He wrote several works: — "Commentaries
upon the Master of the Sentences," " A course of
Sermons for the whole year," &c. and died about
the year 1380.
Edmund Bromfield, eulogised by Leland, as one
of the most erudite monks of Bury Abbey, is said
to have gone through his studies in England, and
then to have repaired to Rome, where he was chosen
professor, and distinguished by the title of Count
Palatine of the University. The Pope appointed
him to the see of Landaff, in the year 1389. He
died in 1391, and was buried in his own Cathedral.
With the date ofthe birth of Boston de Bury, a
monk who flourished here, in the year 1410, we are
unacquainted. He was the author of the following
works: — " Of the Original Progress and Success of
Religious Orders, and other Monastical Affairs;"
"A Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers;" "The
Mirror of Conventuals, State of his own Mon
astery," &c. This monk, who appears to have been
actuated by a genuine and ardent love of literature,
travelled over almost all England to inspect the
libraries. Nor was this perambulation undertaken
from motives of idle curiosity, or mere selfish gra
tification. With great labour, he compiled an

128
alphabetical catalogue of all the books which the re»
spective libraries contained; and, to render it com
plete, he gave a brief account of each ofthe authors,
with the opinions of his most learned contemporaries
respecting their writings, and noted in what library
each book was deposited.
John Paddesley, the son of Simon Paddesley of
this town, a Goldsmith in London, by his wealth
and reputation, obtained the office of Lord Mayor
of that city in 1440.
John of Bury, so called from his being born in
this town, was an Augustinian Monk in the Abbey
of Clare, Doctor of Divinity in Cambridge, and pro
vincial of his order throughout England and Ireland.
He was a good scholar, but a zealous opposer of
all the followers of Wickliffe. He flourished about
the year 1460.
Stephen Gardener, a celebrated prelate and
statesman, born in 1481, was the illegitimate son of
Dr. Woodville, bishop of Salisbury, and brother to
Elizabeth, queen of Henry IV. He was educated
at Trinity hall, Cambridge; from thence he went
into the family of the Duke of Norfolk, and after
wards into that of Cardinal Wolsey, who made him
his secretary. Wolsey recommended him to Henry
VIII. He had a considerable share in effecting
the king's divorce from Catherine of Arragon; and
he assisted him in throwing off the papal yoke.
For these, and other services, he was elevated to
the see of Winchester; but, opposing the refor-

129
mation, in the succeeding year, he was thrown into
prison, where he continued several years, till Queen
Mary released him, restored him to his bishoprick,
and invested him with the office of Lord High Chan
cellor. He drew up the marriage articles between
Queen Mary and Philip II. of Spain, with the
strictest regard to the interests of England. He
opposed, but in vain, the coming of Cardinal Pole
into the kingdom. He preserved inviolate the pri
vileges of the University of Cambridge, of which
he was chancellor, and defeated every scheme for
extending the royal prerogative beyond its due limits.
He had, however, a principal share in reconciling
the English nation to the see of Rome; and he was
deeply implicated in the persecution against the
Protestants. He died in 1555.
Sir Nicholas Bacon, whose father was an officer
belonging to the abbey, was born at Bury, in 1510,
and educated at Bene't College, Cambridge. From
College he went to study the common laws, in the
Inns of Court, where he was so great a proficient,
that he was first made Attorney to the Court of
Wards, and from thence raised to be Lord Keeper
of the Grand Seal, to Queen Elizabeth. He died
February 20th, 1578, and was buried in the choir
of St. Paul's Catheral. His eldest son, Sir Nicholas
Bacon, of Redgrave, Knight, was created the first
Baronet of England, by King James I. His younger
son, Sir Francis Bacon, was in the same reign
created Lord Verulam, and Lord Chancellor.

ISO
William Clagett was born in 1646, and edu
cated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, where he
took his doctor's degree in 1683. He became
preacher to the society of Gray's inn, rector
of Farnham-Royal, Bucks, and lecturer of St.
Michael Bassishaw, London. He died in 1688.
Four volumes of his sermons were published after
his death; besides which he wrote some contro
versial pieces against the romanists and dissenters.
Nicholas Clagett, D. D. brother of the pre
ceding, was born in 1654, and educated at Cambridge,
where he took his doctor's degree in 1704. He was
preacher of St. Mary's, Bury, and rector of
Hitcham, also in Suffolk. He died in 1727. His
son Nicholas became bishop of Exeter.
John Battely, D. D. born in the year 1647, was
educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He be
came chaplain to archbishop Sancroft, who gave
him the rectory of Adisham in Kent, and the arch
deaconry of Canterbury. He died in 1708. Dr.
Battely wrote " Antiquitates Rutupinse," and " An-
tiquitates St. Edmundburgi."
John Sudbury, D. D. Dean of Durham, in King
Charles II 's reign, was a native of Bury, and gave
to it £30 a year, in land, for the apprenticing three
poor boys every year.

John LydgaTe, commonly called the monk of
Bury, though not a native of that town, is here

131
entitled to honourable mention. He was born at
the village of Lydgate, in Suffolk, about the year
1380; and, having studied at an English university,
he travelled into France and Italy, where he ac
quired a competent knowledge of the languages of
those countries, and on his return, opened a school
in London. At what time he retired to the convent
of Bury is uncertain, as is also the period of his
death ; though it is known that he was living in 1446.
He is characterised, as an elegant poet, a persuasive
rhetorician, an expert mathematician, an acute
philosopher, and a tolerable divine. His language
is less obsolete than Chaucer's, and his versification
far more harmonious. The inscription upon Lyd-
gate's tomb, in the conventual church, is given in
a preceding page. Besides an astonishing number
of poems and translations, Lydgate wrote the fol
lowing works: — "The Life and Martyrdom of St.
Edmund, king of the East Angles;" "The Life of
St. Frenvund, Cousin to St. Edmund;" "A Poem
concerning the Banner and Standard of St. Ed
mund;" "A Ballad Royal of Invocation to St.
Edmund, at the instance of king Henry VI. In
the Rev. Mr. Yates's " History of Bury," is an en
graving from Lydgate's curious illuminated MS. of
the Life, &c. of St. Edmund, presented by Wm.
Curtis, the abbot of Bury, to Henry VI. seated on
his throne. The subject is the royal martyr's head,
and the wolf.

APPENDIX, No. I.
Commemoration List of Benefactors to the Guildhall Feoff
ment, to the Corporation, the Royal School of Edward the Sixth,
the Cliarity Schools, and the Inhabitants of the Borough of
Bury St. Edmund's.

GUILDHALL FEOFFMENT.
John, or Jankin Smith, Esq. A. D. 1470, gave Lands in
Bury, Barton, Rougham, Nowton, and elsewhere, for the
celebrating of his Anniversary, and for the use of the Alderman,
Burgesses, Commonalty, and Poor of Bury.
Mrs. Margaret Odeham, A. D. 1474, gave divers Houses
and Lands in Bury and elsewhere, to pay Taxes, Tollages, &c.
for the help of the Poor Inhabitants, and of the Prisoners in
the Gaol,
John Frenze, A. D. 1494, gave the Land belonging to the
Spittal House, in Risbygate-street, for the benefit of the Poor.
Adam Newham, . A.D. 1496, ->
, „  „_  ,,„„ (Gave certain Lands for
' J the Relief of the Poor.

William and Ellen Fish, 1499,
Catherine Cage, . . . 1557,-

John Salter, 1503, gave Lands for the same purpose, and
also for tbe Reparation of the Churches.
William Tassell, Esq. 1558, gave certain Messuages and
Lands, for the Maintenance of the Ministers, for the Reparation
of the Churches, for Taxes, the setting forth of Soldiers, and
other Purposes, according to the Will of John Smith, Esq.
Mr. Thomas Bright, the Elder, Alderman, 1587, gave a
Portion of Tithes, payable out of Brookhall Manor, in Foxearth,

133
in the County of Essex, for the Yearly Payment of 40s. for the
Reparation of the Churches ; 40s. for the Relief of the Poor ;
20s for the Prisoners in the Gaol ; and the Residue for such
good Uses as the Feoffees should think fit. He gave also 300/.
to continue in Stock for ever, for the Relief of the Poor.
Edmund Jermyn, Esq. 1571, gave an Annuity of 40/. issuing
out of the Manor of Forksey, in Lincolnshire, for the Use of
the Poor.
Thomas Badby, Esq. 1578, gave the Shire House (with a,
Piece of Ground adjoining) for the Assizes and Sessions to be
held therein; likewise a Rent-charge of 6/. per Annum, upon
two Tenements in School-hall-street, to two Poor Men and one
Poor Woman in each Parish.
Mr. James Baxter, A.D. 1612, gave an Acre of Land, in
Spinton Mill-Field, towards keeping in Repair the Library in
St. James's Church.
Peter Kembold, gave 100/. for the Purchase of Land, the
Profit thereof to be given to the Poor of the East and North
Wards. The Lady Kitson, 1625, gave a Rent-charge of 10/. per
Annum, issuing out of the Manor of Lackford, for the Relief
of ancient impotent People, with Food, Firing, Clothing, or
otherwise. Mr. Thomas Bright (eldest Son of the before-named Thos.
Bright) 1625, gave his Houses in the Neat-Market, out of the
Rents of which 5/. are to be yearly laid out in the putting out
four poor Children, of St. Mary's Parish, and taken out of the
Workhouse ; 40s. for repairing the Churches, and 20s. for the
Prisoners in the Gaol.
Mr. Peter Ling, a Burgess, gave two Houses in the Short
Brackland, and one House in the Westgate-street, towards
clothing the Poor.
Edward Darby, Gent. 1634, gave Laud in Canewden, in
Essex, for the catechising of the Poor in St. James's Parish, for
giving to each a Loaf of Wheaten Bread, and for remunerating
the Minister.

134
Mr. John Sharp, 1631, gave 200/. the Interest of which was
to be thus applied — 20s. to the Prisoners in the Town Gaol, 20s.
to the Prisoners in the County Gaol, 10s. to the Prisoners in the
Bridewell, 10s. to the Poor in the Spittal House, and tbe Residue
to the Poor of the East and North Wards.
The Lady Carey, Daughter of Mr. Thomas Bright, gave
100/. for the purchasing of Lands to the yearly Value of 51.
which was to be equally distributed to five poor Widows.
Mr. Edward Bourne, Alderman, 1637, gave 20/. Stock, to
set the Poor to work ; also a Close of Ground of about eight
Acres, lying in Hepworth, for the yearly binding out four poor
Boys, two in each Parish ; and for one Chaldron of Coals, or
Load of Wood, to two poor Widows, residing in the Alms
Houses which he left.
Mr. Francis Pinner, Alderman, 1639, gave some Tenements
in Whiting-street, and elsewhere, for charitable Uses,
Mr. Stephen Ashwell, a Chief Burgess, gave 200/. to re
main in Stock, the yearly Profits thereof to be employed in
clothing the Poor.
Mr. William Deynes, of Barrow, gave a Rent-charge of
13s. 4d. to be paid yearly to the Poor in the Spittal House.
Mr. Anthony Smith, Alderman, 1654, gave a Tenement in
the Neat-Market, for the yearly clothing of six Men and six
Women. Mr. Bartholomew Brooksby gave a Tenement in North-
gate-street, and two Acres of Land in Risby-gate Field.
Martha Cobbs, 1697, gave 100/. for the Purchase of Land,
the Rent and Profits to be equally distributed amongst five poor
old Widows.
Mr. Francis Pinner, Jun. gave 20/. to remain in Stock, to
wards the maintenance of the Market Lecture.
Sir Robert Clarke and Mary his Wife, 1730, gave certain
Lands for the Benefit of the Inhabitants.
Mr. Richard Walker, Alderman, gave 20/. to remain in
Stock, and also a House in Church-gate-street, for the benefit
of the Poor.

>Gave 40/. each for Stock,
to set the Poor to work.

135
Sir Thomas Kitson, Kt. . . "
Francis Boldero ....
William Markent ....
John Boldero 
Mathew Lancaster, Alderman,"! Gave 20/, each for Stock,
John Gibbs, Alderman, , . I to set the Poor to work.
Roger Lowdell, a Burgess, gave 10/. for Stock, to set the
Poor to work.
The Alms Houses (now 98 in number) were given by Edmund
King, Margaret Drury, Reynold Church, Thomas Brewse,
Thomas Berifee, John Adams, Bartholomew Brooksby, John
Walker, Ann Hawkins, Tfilliam Burnaby, John Hill, Edward
Bourne, Stephen Ashwell, Francis Boldero, and Robert Parker.
The foregoing Charities are vested in Trustees, by a Deed of
Feoffment, which is dated December 28, 1810, and signed by
the following Names: — John Godbold, James Oakes, Thomas
Gery Cullum, John Ranby,* John Benjqfield, Waller Rodwell
Wright, Thomas Gery Cullum, Clk., Orbell Ray Oakes, Michael
Peter Leheup, Thomas Cocksedge, Joseph Maulkin, William
Could, Robert Maulkin, Edward Milts,* John Le Grice, Henry
Hasted, John Symonds, James Mathew, George Leathes,*
Ezekiel Sparke,* John Howes, William Dalton, George Hub
bard, Charles Blomfield, William Buck,* Thomas Robinson,
George Brown, aud George Moor.
CORPORATION FEOFFMENTS.
King James the First incorporated this Town, and gave'the
Reversion of certain Houses, Tithes, and Glebes.
Sir Robert Drury, Knt. of Hawsted, gave 100/. to remain
in Stock, for a yearly Provision of Firing for the Poor; and
also two Alms Houses for two poor Women of this Town, with
an annual Allowance of 5/. each.
TRUSTEES RESIDENT IN BURY:
John Godbold, Esq. — James Oakes, Esq. — O. R. Oakes, Esq.
* Dead at the time of publication..

136
J. Nonne, Esq. an Assistant Justice, gave 100/.
Mr. Wm. Cropley, a Chief Burgess, gave a Rent-charge of
51. 4s. to two poor Widows, one of each Parish.
John Earl of Bristol gave 500/. towards the building of
the Shambles, aud for such other Uses as the Corporation shall
think fit.

SCHOOL-HALL FEOFFMENTS.
King Edward the Sixth founded the Free Grammar School,
and endowed it with certain Lands. He also gave 200/. to
wards the finishing of St. James's Church.
Mr. Edward Hewer, of London, gave certain Houses in
Great Botolph's-lane, for the paying of Exhibitions to four
Scholars of the same School, when resident at the University.
John Sudbury, D. D. and Dean of Durham, gave certain
Lands in Hepworth, from the Rent of which three poor Boys
were to be apprenticed every Year to Masters resident within the
Borough, and the Overplus to be paid to the Trustees of the
Grammar School, for Exhibitions to Scholars at the University.

OTHER BENEFACTORS.
Holofornes Allen, of Barrow, gave a Rent-charge of 40s.
per Annum, and the Rent of some Lands in Chevington, to be
distributed among the Poor on the North side of the Risby-gate-
street. William Lause gave the great Bell iu St. Mary's Church.
John Parfrey gave the Bell Meadow, for ringing the said
Bell Morning and Evening; and also 4/. per Annum towards
repairing St. Mary's Church.
Mrs. Agatha Borrowdale gave a Rent-charge of 10s. per
Annum for the Poor in St. Mary's Parish.
Penelope, Countess of Rivers, gave a Rent-charge of 8/.
per Annum for a Sermon to be preached, four times in the Year,
against Popery,
Mr. Jasper Sharp, an Assistant Justice, gave the Interest of

137
300/. for the catechising of the Poor in St. Mary's Parish, and
the distributing of Bread to them in the same Manner and
Proportion as in St. James's.
John Clarke, Esq. gave a Rent-charge of 11/. upon a House
in Guildhall-street, to be distributed yearly on the 5th of No
vember to ten poor Widows in each Parish.
Mrs. Dorothy Calthorpe gave 500/. the Product thereof to
be employed in the apprenticing of Boys. — Trustees: the Al
derman for the time being, and the two Preachers.
William Granger gave a Rent-charge of 50s. — 40 of them to
be paid to two poor Men in St. Mary's Parish, and 10 to one
poor Woman in St. James's.
John Sutton, Gent, of Staples Inn, London, gave a Rent-
charge of 32/. upon Lands lying in Brockley, for the Relief of
six poor Men in this Town ; to each il. and a Coat of dark grey
Cloth. Mr. Edmund Bright gave a Rent-charge of 4/. per Annum,
for the Benefit of the Poor.
Roger Kedington, Esq. of Rougham, gave 200/. for pur
chasing Land, to be applied for the apprenticing of poor
Children, every two Years, a Boy from Rougham, and from
St. Mary's Parish, Bury, alternately.
William Cooke, Esq. of Troston, gave two Tenements in
the Long Brackland, and some Copyhold Lands of the Manor of
Hargrave, for the yearly clothing of four poor Men, two in each
Parish. Mr. Recorder Weld gave 200/. towards the re-building of St.
James's Church.
The three Mrs. Chamberlains gave 2000/. Stock, the Profits
thereof for the Relief of poor aged Women, in equal quarterly
Payments : — Trustees : the four Town Clergy.
Jacob Johnson, Alderman, gave 30/. per Ann. to be divided
between eight poor Men and eight poor Women. (Half of St.
James's and Half of St. Mary's Parish) a Coat or Gown, of
dark blue Cloth, to each ; 61. yearly to bind two Boys to Trades ;
30s, for Prayers aud a Sermon on the Feast of Innocents ; and
N 5

138
the Overplus for teaching Children to write. — Trustees . — The
Alderman and Capital Burgesses.
Mr. John Corder gave a Rent-charge of 21. per Ann. for
Bread to the Poor.
Mr. Thomas Sache gave a Moiety of the Rent of a House at
the Westgate, for the Poor of Bury and Horringer.
Dr. John Batteley gave an Estate at Chevingtou for the
Benefit of two poor Men of this Town, of good Lives and
Characters, and Members of the Church of England.
Mr. Samuel Batteley gave the Interest of 100/. for Books
and the Instruction of poor Children:,
Mr. Thomas Fletcher gave six Tenements in Whiting-
street, for the teaching of poor Boys to read, write, and cypher.
Mr. John Gibbon gave a House in the Butter Market, for the
clothing of poor People in St. James's Parish who regularly
attend Church.
Sir John James gave 1000/. 3 per cent. Stock, for Medicines,
&c. for the Poor.
Thomas Craske, M. D. gave the Interest of 100/. for the
teaching of Boys.
Poley Clopton, M. D. endowed the Hospital called Clopton's
Hospital, for the comfortable Maintenance of decayed House
keepers, three Widowers and three W idows from each Parish.
Mrs. Bowes gave 100/. to the Charity Schools.
Ashley Palmer, Esq. gave 50/. to the Charity Schools, 50/.
to the Sunday School, and 50/. to the Dispensary.
John Spink, Esq. Alderman, was a Benefactor to the Poor.
Mrs. Elizabeth Halsey left by her Will 200/. to the Dis
pensary. Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston left 20/. to the same.
Richard Adamson, Esq. left 100/. to the Charity Schools,
100/. to the Sunday School, and 100/. to the Dispensary.
Mrs. Mary Leman left 50/. to the Charity Schools, and 50/.
to the Dispensary.
Simon Cumberland, Esq. left also 50/. to the Dispensary.
Mrs, Jane Armiger left the like Sum for the same Purpose.

APPENDIX, No. II.

ABBOTS OF
THE MONASTERY.
<m Q 9*
1. Uvius, otherwise Wyus, Prior of Hulm, made the first Abbot
(of Bury, by Canute, A. D. 1020, and died in 1044.
2. Leofstanus, succeeded him, and died 1065.
3. Baldwinus, otherwise Baldwin, was his Successor, having
been Abbot 32 years, died 1097.
4. Robert, Son of Hugh, Earl of Chester, after a vacancy of
three years, was next appointed Abbot, but shortly after de
graded, in 1102.
5. Robert, Prior of Westminster, after another vacancy of five
^years, succeeded him, and died in 1112.
6. Aldoldus, Native of Jerusalem, and a Monk of Beccles, was
his successor, and died 1119.
7. Anselm, Nephew of Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury, was
chosen Bishop of London in 1138, but not being accepted there,
continued Abbot here to his Death, which happened 1148.
8. Ordingus his Successor was Abbot 8 years, and died 1156.
9. Hugh, Prior of Westminster, obtained this Abbacy after
him, and died 1180.
10. Sampson de Botington held the Abbacy 31 years, and
died 1211.
11. Hugh, the Second, of Northwold iu Norfolk, after a Va
cancy of 2 years was invested with the Abbacy, from whence he
was translated to the Bishoprick of Ely, in 1228.
12. Richard, Abbot of Burton in Staffordshire, was placed in
his room : he died 1234.

140
13. Henry succeeded him, and was Abbot about 15 years,
dying in 1248.
14. Edmund de Walpoole, was elected in the same year, and
died 1256.
15. Simon de Lutine, or Luton, or Luy ton, succeeded after a
short vacancy, and died iu the 23d year of his Abbacy, 1279.
16. John de Norwold was his successor, and died 1301.
17. Thomas Tottington was the next Abbot, and died 1312.
18. Ricliard de Draughton was Abbot after him, dying 1335.
19. William de Bernham succeeded him, and died 1361.
20. Henry de Hunstanton was chosen, but died before his Con
firmation; whereupon,
21. John de Brinhele became Abbot, and died 1379.
22. John de Tinmouth appointed 1384, and died in 1390.
23. WUliam Cratfield succeeded him, but from indisposition,
iu 1414, tbe business of tbe Abbacy was done by deputation ; and,
the Monasticon says "he resigned four years before his death,
which happened in 1418.
24. William Exeter was the next elected, and died in 1429.
25. William Curleys succeeded him, and is supposed to have
died in 1445.
26. WiUiam Babington appears to have been Abbot iu 1447,
again in 1453.
27. JohnBoon, orBohun, was the next Abbot, and died in 1469.
28. Robert Coote, sometimes called de Ixworth, was Abbot
in 1470, and again in 1473.
29. Ricliard Hengham was elected on the death of Robert of
Ixworth, and died iu 1479.
30. Robert Racclesden was his successor.
31. William Codenham appears to have been Abbot in 1497,
and again in 1508.
32. William Buntyng was Abbot in, 1511.
33. John Reeve, alias Melford, was.elected in 1514, and re
signed the Abbey on the 4th of Nov. 1539, to King Henry VIII.

APPENDIX, No. III.

Having noticed the Public Free School, at page 98,
the following List of tlie Head Masters, from the
Foundation, with some of the Eminent Scholars
educated under them, is subjoined.
HEAT> MASTERS.
In 1562. Philip Mandeville.
1583. John Wright, M. A. •
1586. Edmund Cotte.
1606. John Dickenson.
1637. Edward Francis.
1646. Jeremy Welly.
1647. Thomas Lye.
1647. Thomas Stephens, D. D., Author of the notes on
Statius's " Sylvce."
1663. Edward Leedes. He was the Author of several
approved School books, and was Master Forty-
four years.
1707. John Randal.
1715. Arthur Kynesman.
1745. Robert Garnham.
1767. Lawrence Wright.
1776. Philip Laurents.
1788. Michael Thomas Becher, M. A.
1,809. Benjamin Heath Malkin, LL. D.

142
EMINENT MEN EDUCATED AT BURY.
In 1633. William Sancroft, D. D., Archbishop of Canterbury.
Iu Stephens's Mastership, the Lord Keeper North,
William Clagett, D. D., John Covcl, D. D., Mas
ter of Christ College, Cambridge, and John North,
D. D., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.
1670. Nicholas Clagett, D. D., a Greek Scholar of con
siderable eminence, under Mr. Leedes.
1733. Brocket, Gray's Predecessor as Professor of Modern
History at Cambridge.
Christopher Anstey, Author of " The New Bath
Guide."
1738. John Symonds, LL. D., Professor of Modern His
tory, Recorder of Bury, and a Governor.
1739. Richard Cumberland, the Dramatic and Miscel
laneous Writer.
1740. The Bishop of Bangor.— Most of the Fitz-Roys.—
Lord Middleton
1741. Charles Collignon, M. D., Professor of Anatomy
at Cambridge.
1747. The late Sir Thomas Charles Bunbury, Bart., for
merly Member for the County of Suffolk.
His Brother, Henry Bunbury, the celebrated
Caricaturist.
1748. Dr. Thurlow, Bishop of Lincoln and Dean of St.
Paul's, and afterwards Bishop of Durham.
1750. The Revd. Sir John Cullum, Bart, Author of the
antiquities of Hawsted.
Dr. Prettyman, now Tomline, Bishop of Win
chester.
General Lee, one of the imputed Authors of
Junius.
And, of modern date, —
Robert Alderson, Esq. Steward of the City of Nor
wich, and Recorder of Ipswich and Yarmouth.

143
The Revd. Charles Blomfield, Editor of jEschylus.
His Brother, The Revd. Edward Blomfield, lately
deceased.
The Revd. James Hustler, Tutor of Trinity Col
lege, Cambridge.
William Hustler, Esq. Registrar of the University
of Cambridge.
In the List of all the Schools, from which Pupils have
been sent, who have obtained Public Classical Prizes in the
University of Cambridge, from the year 1806, to February,
1814, both inclusive, the predominant number of Prizes
obtained by the Prize-men sent from St. Edmund's Bury, are
there recorded with ample Honour to this eminent School.

APPENDIX, No. IV.

MEMBERS FOR
THE BOROUGH OF
ST. EDMUND'S BURY.
St. Edmund's Bury did not send Members to Parlia
ment before 12 James I.
Kings' Reigns A. D. Names of the Members.
13 James I. 1614 Sir Thomas Jermyn, Robert Crane.
19 James I. 1621 Sir Thomas Jermyn, John Woodford.
21 James I. 1623 Sir Thomas Jermyn, Anthony Crofts, Esq.
1 Charles I. 1625 Sir Thomas Jermyn, Sir Wm. Spring.
2d Pari, ditto — — Sir Thomas Jermyn, Emanuel Gifford.
3 Charles I. 1628 Sir Thomas Jermyn, Sir William Hervey.
15 Charles I. 1640 Sir Thomas Jermyn, John Godbold.
16 Charles I. 1640 Thomas Jermyn, Esq. Sir W. Spring, and
in his Place Sir Thomas Barnardiston.
Cromwell. 1654 Samuel Moody, John Clark, Esqrs.
1656 Samuel Moody, John Clark, Esqrs.
1659 John Clark, Thomas Chaplin, Esq.
1660 Sir Henry Crofts, Sir John Duncombe.
14 Charles II. 1661 Sir Henry Pooley, Sir Johu Duncombe. — In
the Place of Pooley, Sir John Duncombe ;
and of Sir John, Sir William Duncombe.

145

Kings' Reigns. A. D. Names of the Members.
32 Charles II. 1679 Sir Thomas Hervey, Thomas Jermyu,
34 Charles II. 1681 Sir Thomas Hervey, Thomas Jermyn.
1 James II. 1685 Sir Thomas Hervey, William Crofts,
4 James II. 1688 Sir Rob. Davers, Bart. Sir T. Hervey, Kn
2Wm. &M. 1690 Sir Rob. Davers, Henry Goldwell.— In th
Place of Goldwell, dead, John Hervey.
1.695 Sir Robert Davers, John Hervey.
1698 Sir Robert Davers, John Hervey.
1701 Sir Robert Davers, John Hervey.
1701 John Hervey, Sir Thomas Felton, Bart.
1702 Jphn Hervey, Sir Tho. Felton. — Inthe room
of Hervey, made a Peer, Sir R. Dawn,
1705 Sir Tho. Felton, Sir Rob. Davers.— In room
of Davers, who waved, Awberry Porter.
1707 Sir Thomas Felton, Awberry Po.tter.
1708 Awberry Porter, Sir Tho. Felton.— In room
of Felton, dead, Joseph Weld, Serjeant
at Law. ¦
1710 Joseph Weld, Awberry Porter. — In the room
of Weld, dead, Samuel Batteley.
1713 Carr Hervey, Awberry Porter.
1714 Carr Hervey, Awberry Porter. — In the room
of Porter, dead, J. Reynolds, Serj. at Law.
1722 James Reynolds, Sir Jermyn Davers, Bart.
— In the room of Reynolds, made a
Judge, John Lord Hervey.
1727 John Lord Hervey, Thomas Norton. — In
the room of LordHervey, created a Peer,
Thomas Hervey.
1734 Thomas Hervey, Thomas Norton.
1741 Thomas Hervey, Thomas Norton.
1747 Lord Petersham, Felton Hervey.
1 754 Lord Petersham, Felton Hervey.
1761 Lord Charles Fitzroy, William Hervey.
1768 Lord Chas. Fitzroy, Augustus Johu Hervey.
O

8Wm. III.
11 Wm. III.
13 Wm. III.
14 Wm. III.
1 Anue
4 Anne
6 Anne
7 Anne

9 Anne
13 Anne
1 Geo. I.
8 Geo. I.

1 Geo. II.

7 Geo. II.
15 Geo. II.
21 Geo. II.
27 Geo. II.
I Geo. III.
8 Geo. III.

146
Kings' Reigns. A. D. Names of the Members.
15 Geo. III. 1774 Augustus John Hervey, Sir C. Davers.
Lord H. S. Conway, in lieu of Hervey,
created a Peer, 1775,
21 Geo. III. 1780 Lord H. S. Conway, Sir C. Davers.
24 Geo. III. 1784 G. Ferdinand Fitzroy, Sir C. Davers, Bart.
31 Geo. III. 1790 Lord C. Fitzroy, Sir C. Davers, Bart.
36 Geo. III. 1796 SirC. Davers, Lord F. Hervey.
42 Geo. III. 1802 Lord C. Fitzroy, Lord F. Hervey.
Lord Templetown in lieu of Lord Hervey,
created a Peer, 1803.
47 Geo. III. 1806. Lord C. Fitzroy, Lord Templetown.
48 Geo. III. 1807. Lord C. Fitzroy, Lord Templetown.
53 Geo. III. 1812. Lord C. Fitzroy, F. T. H. Foster, Esq.
59 Geo. III. 1818. Lord Euston, A. P. Upton, Esq.
1 Geo. IV. 1820. Lord John Fitzroy, A, P. Upton, Esq.

APPENDIX, No. V-

CORPORATION

BURY ST. EDMUND'S.

The first Column denotes the period of their
Election to the Common Council, the second when
elevated to Capital Burgesses.
CAPITAL BURGESSES.

James Oakes, Esq.

1763

1768

Sir Thomas Gery Cullum, Bart.

1764

1777

Joseph Maulkin, Esq.

1777

1793

0. R. Oakes, Esq.

1796

1799

P.. Maulkin, Esq.

1793

1805

C. Blomfield, Esq.

1796

1805

James Mathew, Esq.

1797

1808

J. Benjafield, Esq.

1808

1.811

P. J. Case, Esq.

1805

1811

James Borton, Esq.

1805

1817

Thomas Clay, Esq.

1808

1817

J. Orbell, Esq.

1808

1820

J. Thompson, Esq.

1811

1821

148

COMMON COUNCIL.

Mr. John Hawes, . . Elected 1781

George Hubbard,

. 1782

J. Lawrence,

1793

J. Smith,

1793

M. Ottley,

1797

S. M. Complin,

1797

J. Creed,

1802

J. Symonds,

1804

J. P. Cullum,

1807

J. Friend,

1813

R. M. Carss,

1813

J. Boldero,

1815

J. Houghton,

1816

J. Deck,

1817

W. Baldwin,

1817

M. Colk,

1817

A. Gall, . ...

1817

W. Frewer,

1818

W. Browne,

1819

W. De Carle,

1820

Joseph Smith,

1820

R. Biggs,

1821

E. Mower,

1821

George Oliver,

1821

Gentlemen who have served the Office of Alderman,
since 1760.

1761 W. Allen, Esq.
1762 S. Harrison, Esq.
1763 P. Rogers, Esq.
1764 Thomas Complin, Esq.
1765 W. Robards, Esq.
1766 O. Ray, Esq.

1767 N. Ward, Esq.
1768 P. Hart, Esq.
1769 J. Mills, Esq.
1770 W. Wright, Esq.
1771 James Oakes, Esq.
1772 R. Norman, Esq.

149

1773 G. Prety maD, Esq.
1774 S. Hustler, Esq.
1775 P. Hart, Esq.
1776 J. Mills, Esq.
1777 J. Maulkin, Esq.
1778 R. Hasted, Esq.
1779 T. Johnson, Esq.
1780 Thomas Cullum, Esq.
1781 J. Spink, Esq.
1782 J. Mathew, Esq.
1783 M. Wright, Esq.
1784 M. T. Cocksedge, Esq.
1785 J. Oakes, Esq.
1786 J. Garnham, Esq.
1787 G. Pretyman, Esq.
1788 R. Hasted, Esq.
1789 Sir Thos. Cullum, Bart.
1790 J. Spink, Esq.
1791 James Mathew, Esq.
1792 M. Wright, Esq.
1793 Sir Thos. Cullum, Bart.
1794 H. W. Barwick, Esq.
1795 J. Maulkin, Esq.
1796 P. Chambers, Esq.
1797 J. Fairfax, Esq.
1798 J. Cooke, who died in his
Office, and was suc
ceeded by J. Oakes, Esq.

1799 B. Green, Esq.
1800 O. R. Oakes, Esq.
1801 L. Oliver, Esq.
1802 James Oakes, Esq.
1803 R. Sturgeon, Esq.
1804 M.Wright, who died.and
was succeeded by H.
W. Barwick, Esq.
1805 R. MauiKin, Esq.
1806 A. Jenkin, died, and was
succeeded by Sir T.
Cullum, Bart,
1807 C. Blomfield, Esq.
1808 Thomas Foster, Esq.
1809 J. Mathew, Esq.
1810 James Oakes, Esq.
1811 P.J. Case, Esq.
1812 James Oakes, Esq.
1813 P. Chambers, Esq.
1814 C. Blomfield, Esq.
1815 Thomas Foster, Esq.
1816 P. J. Case, Esq.
1817 O. R. Oakes, Esq.
1818 James Borton, Esq.
1819 Thomas Clay, Esq.
1820 W. Beales, died, and was
succeeded by C. Blom
field, Esq,

O 5

150

RETURN OF
POPULATION CENSUS,
IN THE YEAR, 1821.

INHABITED HOUSES IN

St. Mary's Parish

964 .

. Building

. 11

St, James's ditto . . . 909 . . . Ditto .

. 30

1873

41

1360 Houses in the last Return, being an Increase of 513.

MALES.

5 110
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
©
Under
to to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
Total.
5
10 20
30
40
50
60
70
80
50
90 11
< 5
St. Mary's, 326
318 683
261
209
215
142
86
2306
St. James's, 297
352
568
288
254
192
163
94
52
11
2
2273
Males
4579
FEMALES.
St. Mary's, 278
400
762
551
268
272
189
125
68
13
8
2924
St. James's, 297
308
507
470
303
226
159
128
72
15
1
2496
Females
5420
Total St. Mary's, . . . 5230
St. James's . . . 4769
9999
Iu
;rea
»e
,
. 2
34'
I
151
COACHES,
From and passing through Bury.
Old Bury, from the Angel Inn, every morning at 9, to the
Green Dragon, Bishopsgate-street, returns every evening at 6.
¦ — Marquis Coruwallis, from the Greyhound, Monday, Wed
nesday, and Friday mornings, at 9, to the Golden Cross, Charing
Cross ; returns the alternate evenings at 6. — Norwich (the Day J
from the Angel, every morning at 12, to the Spread Eagle,
Gracechurch-strect ; returns every afternoon at 3. — The Phe
nomena, from the Six Bells every day at 11, to the Bull Inn,
Aldgate, aud returns every day at 3 o'clock to Norwich. — The
Times, every day from the One Bell at 12, to the Swan with 2
Necks, Lad Lane, London ; returns every day at 3. — Yarmouth,
from the Spread Eagle, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
mornings at 9 ; returns Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday even
ings at 7. — Cambridge, from the Angel, every day at 2, returns
every day at 1 ; and from the One Bell every day at 9, returns
every evening at 8. — Ipswich Mail, from the Angel daily, to
the White Horse, Ipswich, at 3.

WAGGONS,
From Bury to London.
Drew and Co's. every Wednesday and Sunday morning to
the Bull Inn, Bishopsgate-street, returns every Tuesday
and Saturday. — Shead's, same days, to the Catherine and
Wheel, Whitechapel. — To Ipswich. Boldero's, Wednesday and
Saturday, from the Angel Inn ; returns the same days. — The
communication with the Neighbouring Towns and Villages is
general, every Wedneday, by numerous carriers who frequent
the Town and Markets on that day.
The Post closes for London at eight o'clock in the evening, and
for Ipswich at 3 o'clock every afternoon.

ERRATUM.

At page 91, first line of the note, for perceived read perceive.

INDEX,

Abbey, armorial bearings of
the, 1,91. Account ofthe, 43.
Description of the churches
of the, 46, 47, 48. Western
gate of the, 49. Officers, &c.
of the, 53. Attack of the,
by the townsmen, 56. Ex
emption of the, from epis
copal authority, 58. Dis
solution pf the, 62. Relics
found in the, 63. Gifts and
offerings to the, 64. Noble
persons interred in tbe church
ofthe, 66. Grant ofthe site of
the, by Queen Elizabeth, 68.
Abbots of Bury, privileges of
the, 54. List of, 139.
Alderman of Bury, oath of
the, 55. List of, from 1760.
Ampton, 108.
Angel Inn, the, 105.
Appendix, No. I. List of Bene
factors, &c. to the Corpo
ration, &c. 132.
 No. II. List of tbe
Abbots of the Monastery, 139
¦ No. III. List of the

HeadMasters of Bury School,
&c. 141. -No. IV. List of Mem

bers for the Borough of Bury
St. Edmund's, 144.

Appendix, No. V. Corporation
of Bury St. Edmund's, 147.
Arms of the Abbey and Corpo
ration, 1, 91.
Aungerville, Richard de, 125.
B.
Bacon, Sir Nicholas, 129.
Baret, John, tomb of, 73.
Barrow, 108.
Barton, 109.
Battely, John, 130.
Bearings, armorial, of the Ab
bey and Corporation, 1, 91.
Beaufort, Thomas, discovery of
the body of, 66.
Becher, the Rev. M. monument
to the memory of, 80.
Bederick, Henry, 127.
Benefactors, list of, to the Cor
poration, Schools, &c. 132.
Blomfield, the Rev. E. V. mo
nument to the memory of, 80.
Boston de Bury, i27.
Botanic Garden, 88.
Brackland, Joceliu of the, 125.
Bradfield, 109.
Bridewell, the Borough, 104.
Bromfield, Edmund, 127.
Bull, White, procession ofthe,
64.
Bury, John of, 128.
Bury St. Edmund's, general his-

154

INDEX.

tory and description of, 1.
Etymology of, 2. Establish
ment of Christianity at, 4.
Visit of Queen Elizabeth to,
38. Calamitous fire at, 40.
Witches and Gipsies executed
at, 42. Abbey, Churches, &c.
of, 43. Oath of the Alderman
of, 55. Saxon Tower of, 82.
Churchyard of, 84. Botanic
Garden of, 88. Corporation
of,90,147. Arms of, 91. Fairs
of, 92. Population uf, 94, 150.
Ancieut Gates of, 94. Schools
of, 98, 99. Charitable In
stitutions of, 99. Shire Hall
of, 101. Guild Hall of, 101.
Gaols of, 101, 103, 104. Mar
ket Cross of, 104. Wool Halls
of, 104. Subscription Rooms
of, 105. Chief Inn of, 105.
Public Library of, 106. The
atre of, 106. Military Dep6t
of, 107. Meeting Houses of,
107. Principal Seats and
Villages in the neighbour
hood of, 108. Benefactors
to the Town and Corporation
of, &c. 132. Members for the
Borough of, 144.
C.
Churchyard, description of the,
84.
Clagget, Nicholas, 130.
Clagget, William, 130.
Clopton, Poley, hospital of, 99.
Epitaph to the memory of,
100. Coaches, list of, from
and passing through Bury,
151.
Computist, Roger the, 126.
Corporation, account of the,
90. Arms ofthe, 91. Feoff
ments of the, 135. List of
the, 147.
Correction, House of, 103.
Culford, 110.
Cullum, the Rev. Sir J. 115.

D.
Danes, first descent of the, 10.
Depden,-lll. Depot, the military, 107.
Drinkstone, 111.
Drury, arms and monuments
of the family of, 75.
E
Edmund, St. life of, 6. Poetical
legend on the death of, 19.
Discovery of the head of, by
a -wolf, 22. Miracles per
formed by the body of, 23, 45.
Edmund's Hill, St. 111.
Elizabeth, Queen, visit of, to
Bury, 38.
Epitaphs, remarkable, 86.
Eversden, John, 126.
F.
Fairs, 92.
Feoffments, Guild Hall, 132.
Corporation, 135. School-
Hall, 136.
Fornham, 111.
Friars, Grey, contests of the,
with the monks of Bury, 60.
Friary, the, 96. G.
Gaol, the County, 101.
Garden, Botanic, 88.
Gardener, Stephen, 128.
Gates, the Town, 94.
Gloucester, death of the good
Duke of, 35, 95. Monument
to the memory of, 36.
Guild Hall, the, 101. Feoff
ments of the, 132.
H.
Hardwick, 112.
Haselton, Mary, monumeut to
the memory of, 85.

INDEX.

155

Hawsted, 113.
Hengrave, 115.
Hopkins, the witch-finder, ac
count of, 41, 42.
Horningsbeath, 116.

Ickworth, 117.
Ixworth, 118. J.
James, St. account of the
church of, 79.
Jews, crucifixion of a Christian
boy by the, 30.
Jocelin of the Brackland, 125.

Larke, the river, 107.
Library, the Suffolk Public,106.
Livermere, 119.
Lloyd, Sarah, monument to the
memory of, 87.
Lodbrog, history of, 10.
Lydgatey John, 67, 130.
M.
Markets, 91.
Market Cross, the, 104, 106.
Mary, Princess, discovery of
the remains of , 71, 72.
Mary, St. account of the church
of, 69. Remains ofthe chapel
of, 96.
Masters, Head, of Bury School,
141.
Meeting Houses, &c. 107.
Members, list of, for the Bo
rough, &c*'144.
Monastery, Abbots of tbe, 139.
Monks, disputes between the
and the secular clergy, 25,
Moyse HaU, 104. N.
Nicholas, St. remains of the
hospital of, 96.

Norwold, John de, 125*
O.
Oath, the, taken by the Al
derman of Bury, 55.

Paddesley, John, 128.
Peter, St. site of the hospital
of, 97.
Petronilla, St. hospital of, 97.
Plague, the, ravages of, at
Bury, 41.
Population, 94, 150,
Post Office, the, hour of clos
ing, 151. R.
Reeves, John, the last Abbot
of Bury, epitaph on, 73.
Reynolds, the Rt. Hon. James,
monument to the memory
of, 79.
Risby, 119.
Roger the Computist, 126.
Rougham, 119.
Rushbrook, 120. S.
Saxham, 120, 121.
Saviour's, St. Hospital of, 95.
Saxon Tower, description of
the, 82.
Schools, free, &c. 98, 99.
School Hall Feoffments, 136.
Seats, principal, 108.
Shambles, the, 104.
Shire-Hall, the, 101.
Smyth, Jankyn, 76.
Spink, John, Esq. monument
to the memory of, 85.
Stone Chapel, antique remains
of, 97.
Stow, 122.
Stowlangtoft, 122.
Straw, Jack, insurrection of, 34
Subscription Rooms, 105.

156

INDEX.

Sudbury, John, 130.
Sweyn, death of King, 27.
T.
Theatre, 106.
Tower, Saxon, description of
the, 82.
Troston, 122.

Villages, principal, 108.

W.
Waggons, list of, from Bury
to London, Ipswich, &c.
151.
Welnetham, 123.
Whepstead, 123.
Witchcraft, persecutions for,
41.
Wolf, a, discovers the bead of
St. Edmund, 22.
Woolpit, 123.
Wool Halls, the, 104.

IPSWICH.
PRINTED BY R. DECK, CORNHILL,

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY