第3章

shallmaketheladieslaughatthefamousoldstoryoftheFlitchofBaconatDunmow,whichisthis:

OneRobertFitzwalter,apowerfulbaroninthiscountyinthetimeofHenryIII。,onsomemerryoccasion,whichisnotpreservedintherestofthestory,institutedacustomintheprioryhere:Thatwhatevermarriedmandidnotrepentofhisbeingmarried,orquarrelordifferanddisputewithhiswifewithinayearandadayafterhismarriage,andwouldsweartothetruthofit,kneelingupontwohardpointedstonesinthechurchyard,whichstoneshecausedtobesetupinthePriorychurchyardforthatpurpose,thepriorandconvent,andasmanyofthetownaswould,tobepresent,suchpersonshouldhaveaflitchofbacon。

Idonotremembertohavereadthatanyoneevercametodemandit;

nordothepeopleoftheplacepretendtosay,oftheirownknowledge,thattheyrememberanythatdidso。Alongtimeagoseveraldiddemandit,astheysay,buttheyknownotwho;neitheristhereanyrecordofit,nordotheytellus,ifitwerenowtobedemanded,whoisobligedtodelivertheflitchofbacon,thepriorybeingdissolvedandgone。

TheforestofEppingandHainaultspreadsagreatpartofthiscountrystill。Ishallspeakagainoftheformerinmyreturnfromthiscircuit。Formerly,itisthought,thesetwoforeststookupallthewestandsouthpartofthecounty;butparticularlyweareassured,thatitreachedtotheRiverChelmer,andintoDengyHundred,andfromthenceagainwesttoEppingandWaltham,whereitcontinuestobeaforeststill。

ProbablythisforestofEppinghasbeenawildorforesteversincethisislandwasinhabited,andmayshowus,insomepartsofit,whereenclosuresandtillagehasnotbrokeninuponit,whatthefaceofthisislandwasbeforetheRomans\'time;thatistosay,beforetheirlandinginBritain。

Theconstitutionofthisforestisbestseen,Imeanastotheantiquityofit,bythemerrygrantofitfromEdwardtheConfessorbeforetheNormanConquesttoRandolphPeperking,oneofhisfavourites,whowasaftercalledPeverell,andwhosenameremainsstillinseveralvillagesinthiscounty;asparticularlythatofHatfieldPeverell,intheroadfromChelmsfordtoWitham,whichissupposedtobeoriginallyapark,whichtheycalledafieldinthosedays;andHartfieldmaybeasmuchastosayaparkfordoer;

forthestagswereinthosedayscalledharts,sothatthiswasneithermorenorlessthanRandolphPeperking\'sHartfield-thatistosay,RalphPeverell\'sdeer-park。

N。B-ThisRalphRandolph,orRalphPeverell(callhimasyouplease),had,itseems,amostbeautifulladytohiswife,whowasdaughterofIngelrick,oneofEdwardtheConfessor\'snoblemen。Hehadtwosonsbyher-WilliamPeverell,afamedsoldier,andlordorgovernorofDoverCastle,whichhesurrenderedtoWilliamtheConqueror,afterthebattleinSussex,andPainPeverell,hisyoungest,whowaslordofCambridge。Whentheeldestsondeliveredupthecastle,thelady,hismother,abovenamed,whowasthecelebratedbeautyoftheage,wasitseemsthere,andtheConquerorfellinlovewithher,andwhetherbyforceorbyconsent,tookheraway,andshebecamehismistress,orwhatelseyoupleasetocallit。Byherhehadason,whowascalledWilliam,aftertheConqueror\'sChristianname,butretainedthenameofPeverell,andwasafterwardscreatedbytheConquerorlordofNottingham。

Thisladyafterwards,asissupposed,bywayofpenanceforheryieldingtotheConqueror,foundedanunneryatthevillageofHatfieldPeverell,mentionedabove,andtheresheliesburiedinthechapelofit,whichisnowtheparishchurch,wherehermemoryispreservedbyatombstoneunderoneofthewindows。

Thuswehaveseveraltowns,whereanyancientparkshavebeenplaced,calledbythenameofHatfieldonthatveryaccount。AsHatfieldBroadOakinthiscounty,Bishop\'sHatfieldinHertfordshire,andseveralothers。

ButIreturntoKingEdward\'smerryway,asIcallit,ofgrantingthisforesttothisRalphPeperking,whichIfindintheancientrecords,intheverywordsitwaspassedin,asfollows。TakemyexplanationswithitforthesakeofthosethatarenotusedtotheancientEnglish:

TheGrantinOldEnglish。

ICheEDWARDKoning,HavegivenofmyForrestthekepenoftheHundredofCHELMERandDANCING。

ToRANDOLPHPEPERKING,Andtohiskindling。

WithHeorteandHind,DoeandBocke,HareandFox,CatandBrock,WildFowlewithhisFlock;

Patrich,PheasantHen,andPheasantCock,WithgreenandwildStubandStock,Tokepenandtoyemenwithallhermight。

BothbyDay,andekebyNight;

AndHoundsfortohold,GoodandSwiftandBold:

FourGreyhoundandsixRaches,ForHareandFox,andWildCattes,AndthereforeIchemadehimmyBook。

WitnesstheBishopofWOLSTON。

AndBookeylredemanyon,AndSWEYNEofESSEX,ourBrother,AndtakenhimmanyotherAndourstewardHOWLEIN,ThatBYSOUGHTmeforhim。

TheExplanationinModernEnglishIEdwardtheking,HavemaderangerofmyforestofChelmsfordhundredandDeeringhundred,RalphPeverell,forhimandhisheirsforever;

Withboththeredandfallowdeer。

Hareandfox,otterandbadger;

Wildfowlofallsorts,Partridgesandpheasants,Timberandunderwoodrootsandtops;

Withpowertopreservetheforest,Andwatchitagainstdeer-stealersandothers:

Witharighttokeephoundsofallsorts,Fourgreyhoundsandsixterriers,Harriersandfoxhounds,andotherhounds。

AndtothisendIhaveregisteredthismygrantinthecrownrollsorbooks;

Towhichthebishophassethishandasawitnessforanyonetoread。

Alsosignedbytheking\'sbrother(or,assomethink,theChancellorSweyn,thenEarlorCountofEssex)。

Hemightcallsuchotherwitnessestosignashethoughtfit。

Alsotheking\'shighstewardwasawitness,atwhoserequestthisgrantwasobtainedoftheking。

Therearemanygentlemen\'sseatsonthissidethecountry,andagreatassemblysetupatNewHall,nearthistown,muchresortedtobytheneighbouringgentry。IshallnextproceedtothecountyofSuffolk,asmyfirstdesigndirectedmetodo。

FromHarwich,therefore,havingamindtoviewtheharbour,IsentmyhorsesroundbyManningtree,wherethereisatimberbridgeovertheStour,calledCatawayBridge,andtookaboatuptheRiverOrwellforIpswich。Atravellerwillhardlyunderstandme,especiallyaseaman,whenIspeakoftheRiverStourandtheRiverOrwellatHarwich,fortheyknowthembynoothernamesthanthoseofManningtreewaterandIpswichwater;sowhileIamonsaltwater,Imustspeakasthosewhousetheseamayunderstandme,andwhenIamupinthecountryamongtheinlandtownsagain,Ishallcallthemoutoftheirnamesnomore。

ItistwelvemilesfromHarwichupthewatertoIpswich。BeforeI

cometothetown,Imustsaysomethingofit,becausespeakingoftheriverrequiresit。Informertimes,thatistosay,sincethewriterofthisrememberstheplaceverywell,andparticularlyjustbeforethelateDutchwars,Ipswichwasatownofverygoodbusiness;particularlyitwasthegreatesttowninEnglandforlargecolliersorcoal-shipsemployedbetweenNewcastleandLondon。

Alsotheybuiltthebiggestshipsandthebest,forthesaidfetchingofcoalsofanythatwereemployedinthattrade。Theybuilt,also,theresoprodigiousstrong,thatitwasanordinarythingforanIpswichcollier,ifnodisasterhappenedtohim,toreign(asseamencallit)fortyorfiftyyears,andmore。

InthetownofIpswichthemastersoftheseshipsgenerallydwelt,andtherewere,astheythentoldme,aboveahundredsailofthem,belongingtothetownatonetime,theleastofwhichcarriedfifteenscore,astheycomputeit,thatis,300chaldronofcoals;

thiswasabouttheyear1668(whenIfirstknewtheplace)。Thismadethetownbeatthattimesopopulous,forthosemasters,astheyhadgoodshipsatsea,sotheyhadlargefamilieswholivedplentifully,andinverygoodhousesinthetown,andseveralstreetswerechieflyinhabitedbysuch。

ThelossordecayofthistradeaccountsforthepresentpretendeddecayofthetownofIpswich,ofwhichIshallspeakmorepresently。Theshipsworeout,themastersdiedoff,thetradetookanewturn;Dutchflyboatstakeninthewar,andmadefreeshipsbyActofParliament,thrustthemselvesintothecoal-tradefortheinterestofthecaptors,suchastheYarmouthandLondonmerchants,andothers;andtheIpswichmendroppedgraduallyoutofit,beingdiscouragedbythoseDutchflyboats。TheseDutchvessels,whichcostnothingbutthecaption,wereboughtcheap,carriedgreatburthens,andtheIpswichbuildingfelloffforwantofprice,andsothetradedecayed,andthetownwithit。I

believethiswillbeownedforthetruebeginningoftheirdecay,ifImustallowittobecalledadecay。

Buttoreturntomypassageuptheriver。Inthewinter-timethosegreatcollierships,above-mentioned,arealwayslaidup,astheycallit;thatistosay,thecoaltradeabatesatLondon,thecitizensaregenerallyfurnished,theirstorestakenin,andthedemandisover;sothatthegreatships,thenorthernseasandcoastbeingalsodangerous,thenightslong,andthevoyagehazardous,gotoseanomore,butlieby,theshipsareunrigged,thesails,etc。,carriedashore,thetop-mastsstruck,andtheyridemooredintheriver,undertheadvantagesandsecurityofsoundground,andahighwoodyshore,wheretheylieassafeasinawetdock;anditwasaveryagreeablesighttosee,perhapstwohundredsailofships,ofallsizes,lieinthatpostureeverywinter。Allthiswhile,whichwasusuallyfromMichaelmastoLadyDay,themasterslivedcalmandsecurewiththeirfamiliesinIpswich;andenjoyingplentifully,whatinthesummertheygotlaboriouslyatsea,andthismadethetownofIpswichverypopulousinthewinter;forasthemasters,somostofthemen,especiallytheirmates,boatswains,carpenters,etc。,wereofthesameplace,andlivedintheirproportions,justasthemastersdid;sothatinthewintertheremightbeperhapsathousandmeninthetownmorethaninthesummer,andperhapsagreaternumber。

TojustifywhatIadvancehere,thatthistownwasformerlyveryfullofpeople,IaskleavetorefertotheaccountofMr。Camden,andwhatitwasinhistime。Hiswordsarethese:-\"Ipswichhasacommodiousharbour,hasbeenfortifiedwithaditchandrampart,hasagreattrade,andisverypopulous,beingadornedwithfourteenchurches,andlargeprivatebuildings。\"ThisconfirmswhatIhavementionedoftheformerstateofthistown;butthepresentstateismyproperwork;Ithereforereturntomyvoyageuptheriver。

Thesightoftheseshipsthuslaidupintheriver,asIhavesaid,wasveryagreeabletomeinmypassagefromHarwich,aboutfiveandthirtyyearsbeforethepresentjourney;anditwasinitsproportionequallymelancholytohearthattherewerenowscarcefortysailofgoodcolliersthatbelongedtothewholetown。

Inacreekinthisriver,calledLavingtonCreek,wesawatlowwatersuchshoals,orhillsrather,ofmussels,thatgreatboatsmighthaveloadedwiththem,andnomisshavebeenmadeofthem。

Nearthiscreek,SirSamuelBarnadistonhadaveryfineseat,as,also,adecoyforwildducks,andaverynobleestate;butitisdividedintomanybranchessincethedeathoftheancientpossessor。ButIproceedtothetown,whichisthefirstinthecountyofSuffolkofanynotethisway。

Ipswichisseated,atthedistanceoftwelvemilesfromHarwich,upontheedgeoftheriver,which,takingashortturntothewest,thetownforms,there,akindofsemicircle,orhalfmoon,uponthebankoftheriver。Itisveryremarkable,thatthoughshipsof500

tonmay,uponaspringtide,comeupverynearthistown,andmanyshipsofthatburthenhavebeenbuiltthere,yettheriverisnotnavigableanyfartherthanthetownitself,orbutverylittle;no,notforthesmallestbeats;nordoesthetide,whichrisessometimesthirteenorfourteenfeet,andgivesthemtwenty-fourfeetwaterverynearthetown,flowmuchfartheruptheriverthanthetown,ornotsomuchastomakeitworthspeakingof。

Hetooklittlenoticeofthetown,oratleastofthatpartofIpswich,whopublishedinhiswildobservationsonitthatshipsof200tonarebuiltthere。Iaffirm,thatIhaveseenashipof400

tonlaunchedatthebuilding-yard,closetothetown;andIappealtotheIpswichcolliers(thosefewthatremain)belongingtothistown,ifseveralofthemcarryingseventeenscoreofcoals,whichmustbeupwardof400ton,havenotformerlybeenbuilthere;butsuperficialobserversmustbesuperficialwriters,iftheywriteatall;andtothisday,atJohn\'sNess,withinamileandahalfofthetownitself,shipsofanyburthenmaybebuiltandlaunchedevenatneaptides。

Iammuchmistaken,too,ifsincetheRevolutionsomeverygoodshipshavenotbeenbuiltatthistown,andparticularlytheMELFORDorMILFORDgalley,ashipoffortyguns;astheGREYHOUND

frigate,aman-of-warofthirty-sixtofortyguns,wasatJohn\'sNess。ButwhatisthistowardslesseningthetownofIpswich,anymorethanitwouldbetosay,theydonotbuildmen-of-war,orEastIndiaships,orshipsoffivehundredtonburdenatSt。Catherines,oratBattleBridgeintheThames?whenweknowthatamileortwolower,viz。,atRadcliffe,Limehouse,orDeptford,theybuildshipsofathousandton,andmightbuildfirst-ratemen-of-wartoo,iftherewasoccasion;andthelikemightbedoneinthisriverofIpswich,withinabouttwoorthreemilesofthetown;sothatitwouldnotbeatallanout-of-the-wayspeakingtosay,suchashipwasbuiltatIpswich,anymorethanitistosay,astheydo,thattheROYALPRINCE,thegreatshiplatelybuiltfortheSouthSeaCompany,wasLondonbuilt,becauseshewasbuiltatLimehouse。

AndwhythenisnotIpswichcapableofbuildingandreceivingthegreatestshipsinthenavy,seeingtheymaybebuiltandbroughtupagainladen,withinamileandhalfofthetown?

ButtheneighbourhoodofLondon,whichsucksthevitalsoftradeinthisislandtoitself,isthechiefreasonofanydecayofbusinessinthisplace;andIshall,inthecourseoftheseobservations,hintatit,wheremanygoodseaportsandlargetowns,thoughfartheroffthanIpswich,andaswellfittedforcommerce,areyetswallowedupbytheimmenseindraftoftradetotheCityofLondon;

andmoredecayedbeyondallcomparisonthanIpswichissupposedtobe:asSouthampton,Weymouth,Dartmouth,andseveralotherswhichI

shallspeaktointheirorder;andifitbeotherwiseatthistime,withsomeothertowns,whicharelatelyincreasedintradeandnavigation,wealth,andpeople,whiletheirneighboursdecay,itisbecausetheyhavesomeparticulartrade,oraccidenttotrade,whichisakindofnostrumtothem,inseparabletotheplace,andwhichfixestherebythenatureofthething;astheherring-

fisherytoYarmouth;thecoaltradetoNewcastle;theLeedsclothingtrade;theexportofbutterandlead,andthegreatcorntradeforHolland,istoHull;theVirginiaandWestIndiatradeatLiverpool;theIrishtradeatBristol,andthelike。Thusthewarhasbroughtafluxofbusinessandpeople,andconsequentlyofwealth,toseveralplaces,aswellastoPortsmouth,Chatham,Plymouth,Falmouth,andothers;andwereanywarslikethose,tocontinuetwentyyearswiththeDutch,oranynationwhosefleetslaythatway,astheDutchdo,itwouldbethelikeperhapsatIpswichinafewyears,andatotherplacesonthesamecoast。

Butatthispresenttimeanoccasionofferstospeakinfavourofthisport;namely,theGreenlandfishery,latelyproposedtobecarriedonbytheSouthSeaCompany。OnwhichaccountImayfreelyadvancethis,withoutanycomplimenttothetownofIpswich,noplaceinBritainisequallyqualifiedlikeIpswich;whetherwerespectthecheapnessofbuildingandfittingouttheirshipsandshallops;alsofurnishing,victualling,andprovidingthemwithallkindsofstores;convenienceforlayinguptheshipsafterthevoyage,roomforerectingtheirmagazines,warehouses,ropewalks,cooperages,etc。,ontheeasiestterms;andespeciallyforthenoisomecookery,whichattendstheboilingtheirblubber,whichmaybeonthisriver(asitoughttobe)remotefromanyplacesofresort。Thentheirnearnesstothemarketfortheoilwhenitismade,andwhich,aboveall,oughttobethechiefthingconsideredinthattrade,theeasinessoftheirputtingouttoseawhentheybegintheirvoyage,inwhichthesamewindthatcarriesthemfromthemouthofthehaven,isfairtotheveryseasofGreenland。

Icouldsaymuchmoretothispointifitwereneedful,andinfewwordscouldeasilyprove,thatIpswichmusthavethepreferenceofalltheporttownsofBritain,forbeingthebestcentreoftheGreenlandtrade,ifeverthattradefallintothemanagementofsuchapeopleasperfectlyunderstand,andhaveaduehonestregardtoitsbeingmanagedwiththebesthusbandry,andtotheprosperityoftheundertakingingeneral。Butwhetherweshalleverarriveatsohappyatimeastorecoversousefulatradetoourcountry,whichourancestorshadthehonourtobethefirstundertakersof,andwhichhasbeenlostonlythroughtheindolenceofothers,andtheincreasingvigilanceofourneighbours,thatisnotmybusinessheretodispute。

WhatIhavesaidisonlytolettheworldseewhatimprovementthistownandportiscapableof;IcannotthinkbutthatProvidence,whichmadenothinginvain,cannothavereservedsouseful,soconvenientaporttolievacantintheworld,butthatthetimewillsometimeorothercome(especiallyconsideringtheimprovingtemperofthepresentage)whensomepeculiarbeneficialbusinessmaybefoundout,tomaketheportofIpswichasusefultotheworld,andthetownasflourishing,asNaturehasmadeitproperandcapabletobe。

Asforthetown,itistrue,itisbutthinlyinhabited,incomparisonoftheextentofit;buttosaytherearehardlyanypeopletobeseenthere,isfarfrombeingtrueinfact;andwhoeverthinksfittolookintothechurchesandmeeting-housesonaSunday,orotherpublicdays,willfindthereareverygreatnumbersofpeoplethere。Orifhethinksfittoviewthemarket,andseehowthelargeshambles,calledCardinalWolsey\'sButchery,arefurnishedwithmeat,andtherestofthemarketstockedwithotherprovisions,mustacknowledgethatitisnotforafewpeoplethatallthosethingsareprovided。Apersonverycurious,andonwhoseveracityIthinkImaydepend,goingthroughthemarketinthistown,toldme,thathereckonedupwardsofsixhundredcountrypeopleonhorsebackandonfoot,withbasketsandothercarriage,whohadallofthembroughtsomethingorothertotowntosell,besidesthebutchers,andwhatcameincartsandwaggons。

Ithappenedtobemylottobeonceatthistownatthetimewhenaveryfinenewship,whichwasbuiltthereforsomemerchantsofLondon,wastobelaunched;andifImaygivemyguessatthenumbersofpeoplewhichappearedontheshore,inthehouses,andontheriver,IbelieveIammuchwithincompassifIsaytherewere20,000peopletoseeit;butthisisonlyaguess,ortheymightcomeagreatwaytoseethesight,orthetownmaybedeclinedfarthersincethat。Butaviewofthetownisoneofthesurestrulesforagrossestimate。

Itistruehereisnosettledmanufacture。TheFrenchrefugeeswhentheyfirstcameovertoEnglandbeganalittletotaketothisplace,andsomemerchantsattemptedtosetupalinenmanufactureintheirfavour;butithasnotmetwithsomuchsuccessaswasexpected,andatpresentIfindverylittleofit。Thepoorpeopleare,however,employed,astheyarealloverthesecounties,inspinningwoolforothertownswheremanufacturesaresettled。

ThecountryroundIpswich,asareallthecountiessonearthecoast,isappliedchieflytocorn,ofwhichaverygreatquantityiscontinuallyshippedoffforLondon;andsometimestheyloadcornhereforHolland,especiallyifthemarketabroadisencouraging。

Theyhavetwelveparishchurchesinthistown,withthreeorfourmeetings;buttherearenotsomanyQuakershereasatColchester,andnoAnabaptistsorAntipoedoBaptists,thatIcouldhearof-atleast,thereisnomeeting-houseofthatdenomination。Thereisonemeeting-houseforthePresbyterians,onefortheIndependentsandonefortheQuakers;thefirstisaslargeandasfineabuildingofthatkindasmostonthissideofEngland,andtheinsidethebestfinishedofanyIhaveseen,Londonnotexcepted;

thatfortheIndependentsisahandsomenew-builtbuilding,butnotsogayorsolargeastheother。

Thereisagreatdealofverygoodcompanyinthistown,andthoughtherearenotsomanyofthegentryhereasatBury,yettherearemoreherethaninanyothertowninthecounty;andIobservedparticularlythatthecompanyyoumeetwithherearegenerallypersonswellinformedoftheworld,andwhohavesomethingverysolidandentertainingintheirsociety。Thismayhappen,perhaps,bytheirfrequentconversingwiththosewhohavebeenabroad,andbytheirhavingaremnantofgentlemenandmastersofshipsamongthemwhohaveseenmoreoftheworldthanthepeopleofaninlandtownarelikelytohaveseen。ItakethistowntobeoneofthemostagreeableplacesinEnglandforfamilieswhohavelivedwell,butmayhavesufferedinourlatecalamitiesofstocksandbubbles,toretreatto,wheretheymaylivewithintheirowncompass;andseveralthingsindeedrecommendittosuch:-

1。Goodhousesatveryeasyrents。

2。Anairy,clean,andwell-governedtown。

3。Veryagreeableandimprovingcompanyalmostofeverykind。

4。Awonderfulplentyofallmannerofprovisions,whetherfleshorfish,andverygoodofthekind。

5。Thoseprovisionsverycheap,sothatafamilymaylivecheaperherethaninanytowninEnglandofitsbignesswithinsuchasmalldistancefromLondon。

6。EasypassagetoLondon,eitherbylandorwater,thecoachgoingthroughtoLondoninaday。

TheLordViscountHerefordhasaveryfineseatandparkinthistown;thehouseindeedisoldbuilt,butverycommodious;itiscalledChristChurch,havingbeen,asitissaid,aprioryorreligioushouseinformertimes。Thegreenandparkisagreatadditiontothepleasantnessofthistown,theinhabitantsbeingallowedtodivertthemselvestherewithwalking,bowling,etc。

Thelargespiresteeple,whichformerlystooduponthattheycallthetowerchurch,wasblowndownbyagreatstormofwindmanyyearsago,andinitsafalldidmuchdamagetothechurch。

Thegovernmentofthistownisbytwobailiffs,asatYarmouth。

Mr。Camdensaystheyarechosenoutoftwelveburgessescalledportmen,andtwojusticesoutoftwenty-fourmore。Therehasbeenlatelyaverygreatstrugglebetweenthetwopartiesforthechoiceofthesetwomagistrates,whichhadthisamicableconclusion-

namely,thattheychoseoneofeitherside;sothatneitherpartyhavingthevictory,itistobehopeditmaybeameanstoallaytheheatsandunneighbourlyfeudswhichsuchthingsbreedintownssolargeasthisis。TheysendtwomemberstoParliament,whereofthoseatthistimeareSirWilliamThompson,RecorderofLondon,andColonelNegus,DeputyMasteroftheHorsetotheking。

Therearesomethingsverycurioustobeseenhere,howeversomesuperficialwritershavebeenignorantofthem。Dr。Beeston,aneminentphysician,beganafewyearsagoaphysicgardenadjoiningtohishouseinthistown;andasheisparticularlycurious,and,asIwastold,exquisitelyskilledinbotanicknowledge,sohehasbeennotonlyverydiligent,butsuccessfultoo,inmakingacollectionofrareandexoticplants,suchasarescarcetobeequalledinEngland。

OneMr。White,asurgeon,residesalsointhistown。ButbeforeI

speakofthisgentleman,ImustobservethatIsaynothingfrompersonalknowledge;thoughifIdid,Ihavetoogoodanopinionofhissensetobelievehewouldbepleasedwithbeingflatteredorcomplimentedinprint。ButImustbetruetomatteroffact。Thisgentlemanhasbegunacollectionorchamberofrarities,andwithgoodsuccesstoo。IacknowledgeIhadnottheopportunityofseeingthem;butIwastoldtherearesomethingsverycuriousinit,asparticularlyasea-horsecarefullypreserved,andperfectinallitsparts;twoRomanurnsfullofashesofhumanbodies,andsupposedtobeabove1,700yearsold;besidesagreatmanyvaluablemedalsandancientcoins。Myfriendwhogavemethisaccount,andofwhomIthinkImaysayhespeakswithoutbias,mentionsthisgentleman,Mr。White,withsomewarmthasaveryvaluablepersoninhisparticularemployofasurgeon。Ionlyrepeathiswords。\"Mr。

White,\"sayshe,\"towhomthewholetownandcountryaregreatlyindebtedandobligedtoprayforhislife,isourmostskilfulsurgeon。\"These,Isay,arehisownwords,andIaddnothingtothembutthis,thatitishappyforatowntohavesuchasurgeon,asitisforasurgeontohavesuchacharacter。

ThecountryroundIpswich,asifqualifiedonpurposetoaccommodatethetownforbuildingofships,isaninexhaustiblestore-houseoftimber,ofwhich,nowtheirtradeofbuildingshipsisabated,theysendverygreatquantitiestotheking\'sbuilding-

yardsatChatham,whichbywaterissolittleawaythattheyoftenruntoitfromthemouthoftheriveratHarwichinonetide。

FromIpswichItookaturnintothecountrytoHadleigh,principallytosatisfymycuriosityandseetheplacewherethatfamousmartyrandpatternofcharityandreligiouszealinQueenMary\'stime,Dr。RowlandTaylor,wasputtodeath。Theinhabitants,whohaveawonderfulvenerationforhismemory,showtheveryplacewherethestakewhichhewasboundtowassetup,andtheyhaveputastoneuponitwhichnobodywillremove;butitisamorelastingmonumenttohimthathelivesintheheartsofthepeople-Isaymorelastingthanatombofmarblewouldbe,forthememoryofthatgoodmanwillcertainlyneverbeoutofthepoorpeople\'smindsaslongasthisislandshallretaintheProtestantreligionamongthem。Howlongthatmaybe,asthingsaregoing,andifthedetestableconspiracyofthePapistsnowonfootshouldsucceed,Iwillnotpretendtosay。

AlittletotheleftisSudbury,whichstandsupontheRiverStour,mentionedabove-ariverwhichpartsthecountiesofSuffolkandEssex,andwhichiswithinthesefewyearsmadenavigabletothistown,thoughthenavigationdoesnot,itseems,answerthecharge,atleastnottoadvantage。

Iknownothingforwhichthistownisremarkable,exceptforbeingverypopulousandverypoor。Theyhaveagreatmanufactureofsaysandperpetuanas,andmultitudesofpoorpeopleareemployedinworkingthem;butthenumberofthepoorisalmostreadytoeatuptherich。However,thistownsendstwomemberstoParliament,thoughitisundernoformofgovernmentparticularlytoitselfotherthanasavillage,theheadmagistratewhereofisaconstable。

NearadjoiningtoitisavillagecalledLongMelfort,andaverylongoneitis,fromwhichIsupposeithadthatadditiontoitsname;itisfullofverygoodhouses,and,astheytoldme,isricher,andhasmorewealthymastersofthemanufactureinit,thaninSudburyitself。

Hereandintheneighbourhoodaresomeancientfamiliesofgoodnote;particularlyhereisafinedwelling,theancientseatoftheCordells,whereofSirWilliamCordellwasMasteroftheRollsinthetimeofQueenElizabeth;butthefamilyisnowextinct,thelastheir,SirJohnCordell,beingkilledbyafallfromhishorse,diedunmarried,leavingthreesistersco-heiressestoaverynobleestate,mostofwhich,ifnotall,isnowcentredontheonlysurvivingsister,andwithherinmarriageisgiventoMr。

Firebrass,eldestsonofSirBasilFirebrass,formerlyaflourishingmerchantinLondon,butreducedbymanydisasters。Hisfamilynowrisesbythegoodfortuneofhisson,whoprovestobeagentlemanofveryagreeableparts,andwellesteemedinthecountry。

Fromthispartofthecountry,Ireturnednorth-westbyLenham,tovisitSt。Edmund\'sBury,atownofwhichotherwritershavetalkedverylargely,andperhapsalittletoomuch。Itisatownfamedforitspleasantsituationandwholesomeair,theMontpelierofSuffolk,andperhapsofEngland。Thismustbeattributedtotheskillofthemonksofthosetimes,whochosesobeautifulasituationfortheseatoftheirretirement;andwhobuiltherethegreatestand,initstime,themostflourishingmonasteryinallthesepartsofEngland,ImeanthemonasteryofSt。EdmundtheMartyr。Itwas,ifwebelieveantiquity,ahouseofpleasureinmoreancienttimes,ortospeakmoreproperly,acourtofsomeoftheSaxonorEastAnglekings;and,asMr。Camdensays,waseventhencalledaroyalvillage,thoughitmuchbettermeritsthatnamenow;itbeingthetownofallthispartofEngland,inproportiontoitsbigness,mostthrongedwithgentry,peopleofthebestfashion,andthemostpoliteconversation。Thisbeautyandhealthinessofitssituationwasnodoubttheoccasionwhichdrewtheclergytosettlehere,fortheyalwayschosethebestplacesinthecountrytobuildin,eitherforrichnessofsoil,orforhealthandpleasureinthesituationoftheirreligioushouses。

Forthelikereason,Idoubtnot,theytranslatedthebonesofthemartyredkingSt。Edmundtothisplace;foritisavulgarerrortosayhewasmurderedhere。Hismartyrdom,itisplain,wasatHoxonorHenilsdon,nearHarlston,ontheWaveney,inthefarthestnorthernvergeofthecounty;butSegebert,kingoftheEastAngles,hadbuiltareligionshouseinthispleasantrichpartofthecounty;andasthemonksbegantotastethepleasureoftheplace,theyprocuredthebodyofthissainttoberemovedhither,whichsoonincreasedthewealthandrevenuesoftheirhouse,bythezealofthatday,ingoingonpilgrimagetotheshrineoftheblessedSt。Edmund。

Weread,however,thatafterthistheDanes,underKingSweno,over-runningthispartofthecountry,destroyedthismonasteryandburntittotheground,withthechurchandtown。Butseetheturnreligiongivestothingsintheworld;hisson,KingCanutus,atfirstaPaganandatyrant,andthemostcruelravagerofallthatcrew,comingtoturnChristian,andbeingtouchedinconscienceforthesoulofhisfather,inhavingrobbedGodandhisholymartyrSt。Edmund,sacrilegiouslydestroyingthechurch,andplunderingthemonastery;Isay,touchedwithremorse,and,asthemonkspretend,terrifiedwithavisionofSt。Edmundappearingtohim,herebuiltthehouse,thechurch,andthetownalso,andverymuchaddedtothewealthoftheabbotandhisfraternity,offeringhiscrownatthefeetofSt。Edmund,givingthehousetothemonks,townandall;sothattheywereabsolutelordsofthetown,andgoverneditbytheirstewardformanyages。Healsogavethemagreatmanygoodlordships,whichtheyenjoyedtillthegeneralsuppressionofabbeys,inthetimeofHenryVIII。

ButIamneitherwritingthehistoryorsearchingtheantiquityoftheabbey,ortown;mybusinessisthepresentstateoftheplace。

Theabbeyisdemolished;itsruinsareallthatistobeseenofitsglory:outoftheoldbuilding,twoverybeautifulchurchesarebuilt,andservethetwoparishes,intowhichthetownisdivided,andtheystandbothinonechurchyard。Hereitwas,inthepath-

waybetweenthesetwochurches,thatatragicalandalmostunheard-

ofactofbarbaritywascommitted,whichmadetheplacelesspleasantforsometimethanitusedtobe,whenArundelCoke,Esq。,abarrister-at-law,ofaveryancientfamily,attempted,withtheassistanceofabarbarousassassin,tomurderincoldblood,andinthearmsofhospitality,EdwardCrisp,Esq。,hisbrother-in-law,leadinghimoutfromhisownhouse,wherehehadinvitedhim,hiswifeandchildren,tosupper;Isay,leadinghimoutinthenight,onpretenceofgoingtoseesomefriendthatwasknowntothemboth;butinthischurchyard,givingasignaltotheassassinhehadhired,heattackedhimwithahedge-bill,andcuthim,asonemightsay,almostinpieces;andwhentheydidnotdoubtofhisbeingdead,theylefthim。Hisheadandfacewassomangled,thatitmaybesaidtobenexttoamiraclethathewasnotquitekilled:yetsoProvidencedirectedfortheexemplarypunishmentoftheassassins,thatthegentlemanrecoveredtodetectthem,who(thoughheoutlivedtheassault)werebothexecutedastheydeserved,andMr。Crispisyetalive。Theywerecondemnedonthestatutefordefacinganddismembering,calledtheCoventryAct。

ButthisaccidentdoesnotatalllessenthepleasureandagreeabledelightfulshowofthetownofBury;itiscrowdedwithnobilityandgentry,andallsortsofthemostagreeablecompany;andasthecompanyinvites,sothereistheappearanceofpleasureupontheverysituation;andtheythatliveatBuryaresupposedtolivethereforthesakeofit。

TheLordJermin,afterwardsLordDover,and,sincehislordship\'sdecease,SirRobertDavers,enjoyedthemostdeliciousseatofRushbrook,nearthistown。

ThepresentmembersofParliamentforthisplaceareJermynDaversandJamesReynolds,Esquires。

Mr。Harvey,afterwardscreatedLordHarvey,byKingWilliam,andsincethatmadeEarlofBristolbyKingGeorge,livedmanyyearsinthistown,leavinganobleandpleasantlysituatedhouseinLincolnshire,forthemoreagreeablelivingonaspotsocompletelyqualifiedforalifeofdelightasthisofBury。

TheDukeofGrafton,nowLord-LieutenantofIreland,hasalsoastatelyhouseatEuston,nearthistown,whichheenjoysinrightofhismother,daughtertotheEarlofArlington,oneofthechiefministersofStateinthereignofKingCharlesII。,andwhomadethesecondletterintheword\"cabal,\"awordformedbythatfamoussatiristAndrewMarvell,torepresentthefiveheadsofthepoliticsofthattime,astheword\"smectymnus\"wasonaformeroccasion。

Ishallbelievenothingsoscandalousoftheladiesofthistownandthecountryrounditasalatewriterinsinuates。ThattheladiesroundthecountryappearmightygayandagreeableatthetimeofthefairinthistownIacknowledge;onehardlyseessuchashowinanypartoftheworld;buttosuggesttheycomehither,astoamarket,issocoarseajest,thatthegentlementhatwaitonthemhither(fortheyrarelycomebutingoodcompany)oughttoresentandcorrecthimforit。

Itistrue,BuryFair,likeBartholomewFair,isafairfordiversion,morethanfortrade;anditmaybeafairfortoysandfortrinkets,whichtheladiesmaythinkfittolayoutsomeoftheirmoneyin,astheyseeoccasion。Buttojudgefromthencethattheknights\'daughtersofNorfolk,Cambridgeshire,andSuffolk-thatistosay,foritcannotbeunderstoodanyotherwise,thedaughtersofallthegentryofthethreecounties-comehithertobepickedup,isawayofspeakingIneverbeforeheardanyauthorhavetheassurancetomakeuseofinprint。

Theassemblyhejustlycommendsforthebrightappearanceofthebeauties;butwithastinginthetailofthiscompliment,wherehesaystheyseldomendwithoutsomeconsiderablematchorintrigue;

andyetheownsthatduringthefairtheseassembliesareheldeverynight。Nowthatthesefineladiesgointriguingeverynight,andthattooafterthecomedyisdone,whichisafterthefairandrafflingisoverfortheday,sothatitmustbeverylate。ThisisaterriblecharacterfortheladiesofBury,andintimates,inshort,thatmostofthemareloosewomen,whichisahorridabuseuponthewholecountry。

Now,thoughIlikenottheassembliesatall,andshallinanotherplacegivethemsomethingoftheirdue,yethavingtheopportunitytoseethefairatBury,andtoseethattherewere,indeed,abundanceofthefinestladies,orasfineasanyinBritain,yetI

mustownthenumberoftheladiesatthecomedy,orattheassembly,isnowayequaltothenumberthatareseeninthetown,muchlessaretheyequaltothewholebodyoftheladiesinthethreecounties;andImustalsoadd,thatthoughitisfarfromtruethatallthatappearattheassemblyarethereformatchesorintrigues,yetIwillventuretosaythattheyarenottheworstoftheladieswhostayaway,neitheraretheythefewestinnumberorthemeanestinbeauty,butjustthecontrary;andIdonotatalldoubt,butthatthescandalouslibertysometakeatthoseassemblieswillintimebringthemoutofcreditwiththevirtuouspartofthesexhere,asithasdonealreadyinKentandotherplaces,andthatthoseladieswhomostvaluetheirreputationwillbeseenlesstherethantheyhavebeen;forthoughtheinstitutionofthemhasbeeninnocentandvirtuous,theilluseofthem,andthescandalousbehaviourofsomepeopleatthem,willintimearmvirtueagainstthem,andtheywillbelaiddownastheyhavebeensetupwithoutmuchsatisfaction。

Butthebeautyofthistownconsistsinthenumberofgentrywhodwellinandnearit,thepoliteconversationamongthem,theaffluenceandplentytheylivein,thesweetairtheybreathein,andthepleasantcountrytheyhavetogoabroadin。

Hereisnomanufacturinginthistown,orbutverylittle,exceptspinning,thechieftradeoftheplacedependinguponthegentrywholivethere,ornearit,andwhocannotfailtocausetradeenoughbytheexpenseoftheirfamiliesandequipagesamongthepeopleofacountytown。Theyhavebutaverysmallriver,orratherbutaverysmallbranchofasmallriver,atthistown,whichrunsfromhencetoMildenHall,ontheedgeofthefens。

However,thetownandgentlemenabouthavebeenatthecharge,orhavesoencouragedtheengineerwhowasatthecharge,thattheyhavemadethisrivernavigabletothesaidMildenHall,fromwhencethereisanavigabledyke,calledMildenHallDrain,whichgoesintotheRiverOuse,andsotoLynn;sothatalltheircoalandwine,iron,lead,andotherheavygoods,arebroughtbywaterfromLynn,orfromLondon,bythewayofLynn,tothegreateaseofthetradesmen。

Thistownisfamousfortwogreatevents。Onewasthatintheyear1447,inthe25thyearofHenryVI。,aParliamentwasheldhere。

Theotherwas,thatatthemeetingofthisParliament,thegreatHumphrey,DukeofGloucester,regentofthekingdomduringtheabsenceofKingHenryV。andtheminorityofHenryVI。,andtohislasthourthesafeguardofthewholenation,anddarlingofthepeople,wasbaselymurderedhere;bywhosedeaththegatewasopenedtothatdreadfulwarbetweenthehousesofLancasterandYork,whichendedintheconfusionofthatveryracewhoaresupposedtohavecontrivedthatmurder。

FromSt。Edmund\'sBuryIreturnedbyStowmarketandNeedhamtoIpswich,thatImightkeepasnearthecoastaswaspropertomydesignedcircuitorjourney;andfromIpswich,tovisittheseaagain,IwenttoWoodbridge,andfromthencetoOrford,ontheseaside。

Woodbridgehasnothingremarkable,butthatitisaconsiderablemarketforbutterandcorntobeexportedtoLondon;fornowbeginsthatpartwhichisordinarilycalledHighSuffolk,which,beingarichsoil,isforalongtractofgroundwhollyemployedindairies,andtheyagainfamousforthebestbutter,andperhapstheworstcheese,inEngland。Thebutterisbarrelled,oroftenpickledupinsmallcasks,andsold,notinLondononly,butIhaveknownafirkinofSuffolkbuttersenttotheWestIndies,andbroughtbacktoEnglandagain,andhasbeenperfectlygoodandsweet,asatfirst。

TheportfortheshippingofftheirSuffolkbutterischieflyWoodbridge,whichforthatreasonisfullofcornfactorsandbutterfactors,someofwhomareveryconsiderablemerchants。

Fromhence,turningdowntotheshore,weseeOrfordness,anotedpointoflandfortheguideofthecolliersandcoasters,andagoodshelterforthemtorideunderwhenastrongnorth-eastwindblowsandmakesafoulshoreonthecoast。

SouthoftheNessisOrfordHaven,beingthemouthoftwolittleriversmeetingtogether。Itisaverygoodharbourforsmallvessels,butnotcapableofreceivingashipofburden。

Orfordwasonceagoodtown,butisdecayed,andasitstandsonthelandsideoftherivertheseadailythrowsupmorelandtoit,andfallsoffitselffromit,asifitwasresolvedtodisowntheplace,andthatitshouldbeaseaportnolonger。

AlittlefartherliesAldborough,asthriving,thoughwithoutaport,astheotherisdecaying,withagoodriverinthefrontofit。

Therearesomegentlemen\'sseatsupfartherfromthesea,butveryfewuponthecoast。

FromAldboroughtoDunwichtherearenotownsofnote;eventhistownseemstobeindangerofbeingswallowedup,forfamereportsthatoncetheyhadfiftychurchesinthetown;Isawbutoneleft,andthatnothalffullofpeople。

Thistownisatestimonyofthedecayofpublicthings,thingsofthemostdurablenature;andastheoldpoetexpressesit,\"Bynumerousexampleswemaysee,Thattownsandcitiesdieaswellaswe。\"