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 acquired 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 Lydgate's tomb, in the conventual church, is given in a preceding page. Besides an astonishing number of poems and translations, Lydgate wrote the following works:-"The Life and Martyrdom of St. Edmund, king of the East Angles;" "The Life of St. Fremund, Cousin to St. Edmund;"" A Poem concerning the Banner and Standard of St. Edmund;" "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 engraving 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 Feoffment, to the Corporation, the Royal School of Edward the Sixth, the Charity Schools, and the Inhabitants of the Borough of Bury St. Edmund's.

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,

WILLIAM and ELLEN FISH, 1499,

Gave certain Lands for

the Relief of the Poor.

JOHN SALTER, 1503, gave Lands for the same purpose, and also for the 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,

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 3007. to continue in Stock for ever, for the Relief of the Poor.

EDMUND JERMYN, Esq. 1571, gave an Annuity of 401. 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 61. 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 1007. 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 107. 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 57. 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 Land 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.

N

Mr. JOHN SHARP, 1631, gave 2007. 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, 108. to the Poor in the Spittal House, and the Residue to the Poor of the East and North Wards.

The LADY CAREY, Daughter of Mr. Thomas Bright, gave 1007. 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 207. 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 2007. to remain 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 Northgate-street, and two Acres of Land in Risby-gate Field.

MARTHA COBBS, 1697, gave 1007. for the Purchase of Land, the Rent and Profits to be equally distributed amongst five poor old Widows.

Mr. FRANCIS PINNER, Jun. gave 207. to remain in Stock, towards 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.

ROGER LOWDELL, a Burgess, gave 107. 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, William 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 Benjafield, Waller Rodwell Wright, Thomas Gery Cullum, Clk., Orbell Ray Oakes, Michael Peter Leheup, Thomas Cocksedge, Joseph Maulkin, William Gould, Robert Maulkin, Edward Mills,* John Le Grice, Henry Hasted, John Symonds, James Mathew, George Leathes,* Ezekiel Sparke,* John Hawes, William Dalton, George Hubbard, Charles Blomfield, William Buck,* Thomas Robinson, George Brown, and 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 1007. 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 51. each.

TRUSTEES RESIDENT IN BURY:

John Godbold, Esq.-James Oakes, Esq.-O. R. Oakes, Esq.

* Dead at the time of publication.