Taskards in the Neighbourhood, formerly belonged to the Monastery of Snape, and were first granted, with that Monaftery, to Cardinal Wolfey, and foon after to Thomas Duke of Norfolk. Aldburgh is pretty well fituated for Strength, and has feveral Pieces of Cannon for its Defence. The Church, which is a good Edifice, ftands on an Hill a little Weft of the Town. It is a Town Corporate, governed by two Bailiffs, ten capital Burgeffes, and 24 inferior Officers; and fends two Members to Parliament.

From Aldburgh, I paffed through Saxminden, a little dirty Market town, to Dunwich, a very antient Town, which, by Roman Coins dug up there, is fuppofed to have been a Roman Station. In the Reign of William I. it was fo confiderable a Place, that it had 130 Burgeffes, and was valued to that King at 50l. and 60,000 Herrings. We read, that in the Reign of Henry 11. it was a very famous Village, well ftored with Riches, and fortified with a Rampart, fome Remains of which ftill appear: It is governed by two Bailiffs, and fends two Members to Parliament.

Before thefe times, in the Reign of King Sigebert, Anno 630. Dunwich was a Bifhop's See; and fo continued till William I. made his Chaplain Bishop of it, and tranflated the See to Thetford, which was afterwards tranflated from thence to Norwich.

There were feveral Religiou Houfes in Dunwich, and fome pretend no lefs than fifty Churches: Bat there is a certain Account of fix Parifh Churches, and three Chapels, befides the feveral Religious Houfes, Four of these Parish churches, and the three Chapels, have been long devoured by the Sea; and one of the others met with the fame Fate in this Age, fo that there is only one now ftanding; and what remains of this once famous Place, is but a pitiful Parcel of forry Cottages, yet it fends two Members to Parliament.

Hereabouts they begin to talk of Herrings, and the Fishery. And here alfo, and at Swole or Southwould,

the

Suffolk. the next Sea port, they cure Sprats in the fame Manner as they do Herrings at Yarmouth.

From Dunwich we went to Southwould, pleafantly fituated on an Hill, and almoft furrounded with the Sea and the River Blyth, over which it has a Bridge. It drives a confiderable Trade in Salt and old Beer, and in Herrings, Sprats, &c. The Coaft lies due North from Orfordnefs to Southwould; a bold Shore, and fafe Anchoring all the Way. A little to the South of the Place last mentioned, the Sea breaking in upon the Shore makes a Creek, which, when entered spreading out divides to Dunwich, Southwould, and Walderfwick. While the Town of Dunwich retained any Trade, fhe laboured inceffantly, (her very Existence depending upon it) to diftrefs Southwould; till, to end the Difpute, the latter was incorporated by Henry VII. This Town of Southwould, which, like Dunwich, ftands on a Cliff, at the coming in of the Tide is almoft furrounded by the Ocean. It has fome Share of Commerce from its Situation; and, whenever the River Blyth, which falls into the Creek before defcribed, shall be rendered navigable, (to effect which an Act paffed in the Year 1757) it cannot but be of great Benefit, as well to the Town as to the Country about it. The free British Fishery, established within thefe few Years by Act of Parliament, revived the Courage of its Inhabitants, and has been in many refpects ferviceable to the Place; more particularly in recommending it to the Notice of the Legiflature, in confequence of which an Act paffed Anno 1746-7, for opening, cleanfing, repairing and improving the Haven, to be in Force for 21 Years: but that not having anfwered the defired End, another Act was paffed for enlarging the Term to 21 Years more, and for amending and altering the Powers granted by the former Act; which, it is hoped, will complete the intended Purpoles.

Southwould is a Member of the Port of Yarmouth; and Walberfwick, commonly written Walderfwick, is a

Creek

Creek to Southwould. At prefent thefe Places are but little regarded, but our Pofterity will, from Experience, discover, that a navigable River and good Harbour deserve to be purchased here, though at a confiderable Expence.

The Bay before the Town, antiently called from thence Soul-bay, now commonly, tho' corruptly, Solebay, was a frequent Station of the Royal Navy during the Dutch Wars, and is memorable for two famous Sea-fights, the former, June 3, 1665, and the latter May 28, 1672, both to the Difadvantage of the Dutch..

it

This Bay was formerly bounded by Eafton nefs, fo called because fuppofed to be the most Eastern point of this Coaft, and another Cape to the South-eaft of Dunwich; but the Sea having removed thefe Marks, may now be faid to leave Covehith-nefs, with the Burnet, a Sand lying before it, on the North, and Thorp-nefs on the South, a very commodious Road for Ships, and juftly famous for its Fishery, particularly for Soals, which, in point of Size and Flavour, are not inferior to any caught upon the Coaft of th's Ifland.

The Traffick of my Friend at Woodbridge, Aldburgh, and this Place, gave me the Opportunity I hinted at, of making Excurfions into the main inland Parts of Suffolk, adjacent to thofe Towns, which I fhall tranfcribe from my Memorandum book, in the Order I fet them down.

Ufford, two Miles North-eaft of Woodbridge, is at present of no great Remark; but for the Ruins of a Chapel, called Sogenboc Chapel.

In the Hundred of Hartfmere ftands Broome, a noble old Manfion, which for many Ages has been the Seat of the noble Family of Cornwallis. In this Parish of Broome is an Alms-houfe for poor Widows, fronting the Hall; but not endowed.

Wickham Market is fituated about four Miles from Woodbridge. The Church is built on an Hill, and, though the Steeple be but 23 Yards high, affords the best Profpect of any in Suffolk; for, in a clear Day,

near

near 50 Parish churches may be feen from it. It is now only a Village, but has fome Trade, and the Civil and Spiritual Courts are held in it.

Snape was once noted for a famous Monaftery, few Remains of which are now to be feen. It has a confiderable annual Fair for Horfes, which lafts four Days, beginning August 11, to which the London Jockies refort.

At Sudbourne is a fine Seat of the Lord Viscount Hereford.

At Eafton is the Seat of the Earl of Rochford.

Letheringham was of Note for a little Priory, which was obtained at the Diffolution by Sir Antony Wingfield, and Sir Henry Spelman tells us, that, as a Judgment for the Sacrilege, he died without Iffue Male. It was converted into a Mansion-house, and is now the Seat of the antient Family of the Nauntons. Sir Roger Naunton was in the Reign of King James I. Secretary of State, and Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries. He died Anno 1630. In the Abbey is a long Gallery, adorned with feveral valuable Pictures: and in Letheringham Church are fome elegant Monuments of the Wingfields and Nauntons.

Rendelfham was antiently famous for being the Royal Refidence of Redwald King of the East-Angles. Hugh Fitz-Otho procured a Market and Fair for this Town from King Edward I. Digging here about 60 Years ago, an ancient Silver Crown was found, weighing about 60 Ounces, fupposed to have belonged to Redwald, or fome other King of the Eaft-Angles; which was fold, and melted down for the fake of the Metal.

At Butley two Miles Weft of Orford, was a Priory of Canons Regular; founded by Ranulph de Glanville, Chief Juftice of England, to the Honour of the Bleffed Virgin. The Ruins of the Abbey, which are ftill to be feen, fhew it to have been very large; and the Gate-house is a magnificent Building: it remains in

tire,

tire, and is embellished in the Front with many Coats of Arms, finely cut in Stone.

Framlingham, fituate North-west of Aldburgh, is a large Town, well-built, and pleafantly feated near the Head of the River Ore; it has a fpacious Marketplace; the Church is built of black Flint, and is a very, ftately and noble Edifice, wherein feveral of Mowbrays, Dukes of Norfolk, lie buried. The Caftle is a fair Piece of Antiquity, being a large, beautiful, and strong Building; and contains within the Walls now ftanding an Acre Rood 11 Perches, and was formerly much larger. Its Walls are 44 Feet high, very thick, and pretty intire; and it has 13 Towers, 14 Feet higher than the Walls, two of which are Watchtowers. It was both by Art and Nature formerly very ftrong, there are two good Alms-houses, and a Free-school, founded by Sir Robert Hitcham (who is interred in the Church), for 40 poor Boys, who are taught to read, write, and caft Accoompts; and 10%, is given to fettle each of them Apprentice. This Gentleman bought of the Duke of Norfolk the Castle, Manor, &c. and gave them to Pembroke hall in Cambridge. To this Caftle Queen Mary I. retired, when the Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen by the Northumberland Faction.

+

Halefworth, North-eaft of Framlingham, is a large and good Market-town, fituate upon the River Blyth, which runs through it. The Streets are clean, and partly paved. It has a very neat Church, beautifully decorated within; and is noted for Linen-yarn, which is fpun in the Neighbourhood.

Blithburg, four Miles Eaft of Halefworth, was formerly a Place of good Note; but now has nothing to recommend it but its Church, which is a fine old Building, and kept in good Repair.

Hoxne is the Place where Edmund, King of the Eaft-Angles was murdered by the Pagan Danes, because he would not renounce his Faith, in the Year