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 IInd. 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,
In Essex whereat he lay,

But Lord Bigod laugh'd at his Poursuivant,
And stoutly thus did say:

"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,
And a merry Lord was he,

So away he rode on his berry-black steed,
And sung with license and glee,
"Were I in my castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

I would ne care for the King of Cockney."

At Ipswich they laugh'd to see how he sped,
And at Ufford they star'd, I wis,

But at merry Saxmundham they heard his song,
And the song he sung was this:
"Were I in my castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

I would ne care for the King of Cockney."

The Baily he rode and the Baily he ran,

To catch the gallant Lord Hugh,
But for every mile the Baily rode,

The Earl he rode more than two:
Says, "Were I in my castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

I would ne care for the King of Cockney."

When the Baily had ridden to Bramfield oak,
Sir Hugh was at Ilksall bower;

When the Baily had ridden to Halesworth cross,
He was singing in Bungay tower—
"Now that I'm in my castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

I will ne care for the King of Cockney."

When news was brought to London town,
How Sir Bigod did jest and sing,
"Say you to Lord Hew of Norfolk,"
Said Henry, our English King,

"Though you be in your castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

I'll make you care for the King of Cockney."

King Henry he marshal'd his merry men all,
And through Suffolk they march'd with speed
And they march'd to Lord Bigod's castle wall,
And knock'd at his gate, I rede;

"Sir Hugh of the castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

Come, doff your cap to the King of Cockney."

Sir Hughon Bigod so stout and brave,
When he heard the King thus say,

He trembled and shook like a May-mawther,
And he wish'd himself away;

"Were I out of my castle of Bungay,
And beyond the river of Waveney,
I would ne care for the King of Cockney."

Sir Hugh took three score sacks of gold,
And flung them over the wall,

Says, "Go your ways, in the Devil's name,
Yourself and your merry men all!

But leave me my castle of Bungay,
Upon the river of Waveney,

And I'll pay my shot to the King of Cockney."

THE FAKENHAM GHOST:

BY ROBERT BLOOMFIELD.

This Ballad is founded on a well-known fact. The circumstance, says Bloomfield, occurred long before I was born; but is still related by some of the oldest inhabitants in that part of the country.

acres.

Fakenham Wood, near Euston Hall, is, perhaps, the largest in the county, and covers an extent of 314 It was the frequent resort of Mr. Austin and his family, at the time that Bloomfield was with him, on a Sunday afternoon, in the summer months. Here the farmer was wont to indulge his juniors with a stroll to recreate them after the labors of the week; and this was the Poet's favorite haunt in his boyish days, whenever his numerous occupations left him sufficient leisure to muse on the beauties of nature.

A view of Fakenham from Euston Park, taken near "the darksome copse that whisper'd on the hill," and presenting the " White Park Gate" through which the terror-struck villager fled, when pursued by the longeared apparition, is given in "Storer's and Greig's "Illustrations of Bloomfield, 1806,” 4to. and 8vo.

THE lawns were dry in Euston park ;
(Here truth inspires my tale)

The lonely footpath, still and dark,
Led over hill and dale.