retain with the name much of the appearance of their original destination. This priory is now the seat of Mrs. Barker. In the church belonging to it, which has been many years since converted into a barn, lies the body of Joan of Acres, second daughter of Edward I., by his Queen Eleanor, who was born in the first year of her father's reign, at Ptolemais, in the Holy Land, commonly called Acre, and celebrated in modern history by the defeat of Bonaparte when he laid siege to it, by Sir Sidney Smith and Djezzar Pacha, the energetic old man. Her eldest son, by Ralph de Monthermer, and several other noble personages, were also interred in this church.

The parish church of Clare, an ancient and beautiful structure with a square tower, is at present the principal ornament of the place. From its stately appearance it is thought to have been erected at the cost of the lords, who allowed the town's-people the use of it. The font is of stone, and from its form and decoration, is evidently of the same age as the church. Among other persons of note interred here is Edmund, son of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and next heir to the crown after the death of Richard II. Here is however only one monument of a knight, supposed to be one of the Cavendish family.

About two miles north of Clare is the village of POSLINGFORD: this was anciently the lordship of Ralph Baynard. The impropriation and advowson of the vicarage belonged to the priory of Dunmow, in Essex, and were granted by Henry VIII. to Robert, Earl of Sussex. Here is New Hall.

STOKE JUXTA CLARE. This has long been remarkable for the priory, translated from the castle of Clare hither, by Richard de Tonebridge, Earl of Clare. It belonged to the Benedictines, and about the year 1415, Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, augmented its revenues, and effected its exchange from a priory to a

Engraved by W.Deeble, from a Drawing by Tingham, for the Excursions through Suffolk

collegiate church, consisting of a dean and secular canons; and this change was ratified by Pope John XXIII. and Martin V. At the dissolution it was granted to Sir John Cheke and Walter Mildmay, and afterwards passed to the Elweys or Elwes, one of whom at least, the late John Elwes, esq. has immortalized himself as a compound of avarice, integrity, and good humour. Sir Gervase Elwes, the first proprietor, who succeeded the family of Trigg in this estate, Mr. Topham observes, was a very worthy gentleman, that had involved as far as they would go all the estates he received and left behind him." On his death, his grandson and successor, Sir Hervey, found himself nominally possessed of some thousands a year, but really with an income of only 100l. per annum. He declared on his arrival at the family seat at Stoke, that he would never leave it until he had entirely cleared the paternal estate; and he lived to do that, and to realize above 100,000. in addition. At his death Stoke devolved to his nephew, the late John Elwes, esq. The penurious habits of this gentleman are well known, and have possibly been the subject of some exaggeration. Yet his character, in spite of its defects, had many and great claims to respect. In the mildness of his manners, and the politeness of his address, there was some counterbalance for his singularities. Mr. Elwes, as one of the representatives in the British House of Commons in three successive parliaments, into which he boasted his first election did not cost him more than eighteen-pence, maintained a conduct which purer times might have been glad to boast, and which later times may be glad to follow. The minister that influenced him was his conscience; he obeyed no mandate but his opinion; he gave that opinion as he held it to be right. In a word, his public conduct lives after him, pure and without a stain. In private life, by his parsimony he was chiefly an enemy to him

F

self; to others he lent much, to himself he denied every thing. Yet in the pursuit of property, or the recovery of it, not one unkind thing was ever done by him. His life, however, is a lesson which proves the insufficiency of wealth alone to confer happiness; for none, after considering that of Mr. Elwes, can say I am rich, and therefore shall be happy. His life, if it consoles poverty, at the same time enforces the extreme and perfect vanity of wealth, without that state of mind and those habits which are necessary to make up the happiness of human nature in every state and condition.

Rejoining the high road at Long Melford, we now proceed to Sudbury.

SUDBURY is a borough and market town of high antiquity, situated upon the river Stour, over which is a stone bridge, leading into Essex. This place consists of three parishes, each of which has a handsome parish church, St. Gregory's, St. Peter's, and AllSaints. The town contains 570 houses, many of which are good. and 3471 inhabitants. The market is held on Saturdays, and here are three annual fairs, held in March, July, and December.

Sudbury was anciently called Southburgh, to distinguish it from Norwich, then called Northburgh. It was one of the places where the Flemings brought over by Edward III. were settled for the purpose of instructing the English in the various branches of the woollen manufacture, which continued to flourish at Sudbury many years, and to afford subsistence to a great number of persons, chiefly employed in the weaving of says, funeral crape, and ship's flags. Simon de Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1375, and who was beheaded by the populace in Wat Tyler's insurrection, was a native of this town. He built the upper end of St. Gregory's church, and on the spot where his father's house stood he founded and endowed a college, which