"Farewell, I cry'd, dear charming youth! with thee Each chearful prospect vanishes from me." Loud shouts and triumphs on the Gallic coast I strove the thoughts of Suffolk to forget; Without regard to my repose, you came. "Ye sacred Powers, I cry'd, that rule above! Some tender blossom thus, with leaves enlarg'd, And scatter all around a pearly shower. K From this distracting hour I shunn'd thy sight, That public reasons should my choice restrain; THE Pleasant History of the King AND LORD BIGOD OF BUNGAY. Tune "Dunwich Roses." Hugh Bigod was the descendant of Roger Bigod, who, at the time of the Norman Survey, was in possession of 117 manors in this county. The family came over with William, the Conqueror; and for their eminent services at the battle of Hastings, Roger was thus richly rewarded. His brother, Hugh Bigod, was created by King Stephen Earl of East Anglia; and in 1166 was advanced, by Henry the IInd. to the title and dignity of Earl of Norfolk, and died attainted in 1177. He was succeeded by his son Roger Bigod, who, though heir to the Earldom of Norfolk, and to the stewardship of the royal household, was obliged to purchase both by the payment of 1000 marks, in consequence of the attainder of his father. In the time of King John, he joined the refractory Barons, and was one of the most active amongst them in procuring for the people that great palladium of English liberty, MAGNA CHARTA. He, dying in 1220, was succeeded by his son Hugh, the subject of the following Ballad. The Castle of Bungay is conjectured to have been built by this powerful family. During the intestine commotions, in the turbulent reign of Stephen, it was so strongly fortified by Hugh Bigod, and stood besides in such an advantageous situation, that he was accustomed to boast of it as impregnable; and is reported by Holinshed to have made use of this expression; "Were I in my Castle of Bungaye, "Upon the Water of Waveney, "I would ne set a button by the King of Cocknaye." On the accession of Henry the Ind. however, this nobleman, who had invariably espoused the cause of Stephen, was obliged to give a large sum of money, with sufficient hostages, to save this castle from destruction. Joining afterwards in the rebellion of Henry's eldest son against his father, he was deprived by the king of the castle of Bungay, as well as of Framlingham; but they were both restored, with his other estates and honors, to his son and heir, whose posterity enjoyed them for several generations. Hugh died in 1225. In the reign of Henry the IIIrd. this castle was demolished; and in the 10th. year of Edward the Ist. Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, obtained permission to embattle his house, erected on the site of the ancient castle. He endowed his second wife, Alice, with this manor; and having no children, settled all his castles, towns, manors, and possessions on king Edward, and his heirs. The castle, borough, and manor of Bungay, are supposed to have been given by that monarch to his fifth son, Thomas de Brotherton, and to have been carried, by the marriage of his daughter and co-heiress, into the family of the Uffords. The records, belonging to this castle, perished in the dreadful fire, which consumed the town, in 1688. The mutability of human affairs is strikingly evinced by the present state of this once flourishing edifice; once the baronial residence of the great and powerful, where it is now become the habitation of the lowest class of people; a great number of wretched hovels having been raised against its walls, and let out in lodgings to the poor. THE King has sent for Bigod bold, But Lord Bigod laugh'd at his Poursuivant, "Were I in my castle of Bungay, Upon the river of Waveney, I would ne care for the King of Cockney." Hugh Bigod was Lord of Bungay tower, So away he rode on his berry-black steed, I would ne care for the King of Cockney." At Ipswich they laugh'd to see how he sped, But at merry Saxmundham they heard his song, I would ne care for the King of Cockney." The Baily he rode and the Baily he ran, The Earl he rode more than two: I would ne care for the King of Cockney." |