Henry VI., and others that of the Trinity. These and other ornaments, however, have been long since thrown by in a promiscuous heap of lumber in one corner of the churchyard, though the porch is still decorated with grotesque heads, and an angel standing at each corner with expanded wings. Upon the chancel not far from the foundation, are eleven antique letters, with a crown above each, very much resembling those over one of the windows of Southwold church. These and some emblematical figures seem to suggest the idea that Blithburgh church, like those of Southwold, Walberswick, and Covehithe, were not antecedent to the fifteenth century. The chancel was probably built subsequent to 1442, when John Greyse, by will, left twenty marks towards rebuilding it; and other bequests were continued down to the year 1472. The tower, which formerly had a spire, is of inferior workmanship to the church and chancel, and therefore thought to be much older. A chapel at the east end was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and another at the end of the north aisle was dedicated to her mother, St. Anne. Prior to the reformation, this church certainly contained a great number of images, with that of the Holy Trinity on the north side of the high altar, the usual place for the principal image, or that of the saint to whom the church was dedicated. Besides the images of St. Mary and St. Ann in their respective cha

pels, here were those of St. Sigismund, St. Erasmus, St. Catharine, &c.: some of these probably in the windows, as Robert Pine, in his will, dated 1457, ordered his executors to glaze a window on the north side of the church, and paint it with the history of St. Andrew. In the 30th year of Henry VI. John Hopton had a licence to found a chantry here, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin; however, no mention is made of this foundation at the dissolution. With respect to the two tombs shown here as those of Anna, first king of the East Angles, and Firminius his son, it has been judged that the latter monument may be the tomb of Sir John Hopton, and that the former might have been erected before the rebuilding of the church, for some of the Swillingtons, lords of Blithburgh. A black marble stone, narrower at one end than the other, near the south porch, is also supposed to have been the covering of king Anna: this stone seems to have been carved on the side with a moulding, and raised in the middle. The upper stone of Anna's tomb, according to common report, has long since been broken in pieces, the middle one of which was lost, and the interior has been used as a receptacle for filth and dirt. Upon the altar monument in the chancel two or three clumsy square columns of brick having been raised, occasioned the remark, that the person whom it covers is now a firm supporter of the

church, whatever he might be in his lifetime. In the front of two pews are small figures, eighteen in number, representing the apostles and other persons mentioned in Scripture; and at the west end of the middle aisle is the figure of a man, who used to strike the time on a bell, in the same manner as those at St. Dunstan's, London. This bell has been cracked some time. The remains of the small priory of Black Canons near the church are overgrown with ivy; but in 1528 Cardinal Wolsey obtained a bull for suppressing this and other small religious houses, in order to the endowment of his college at Ipswich. Another religious house stood on the north side of the main street, cal led Holy Rood Chapel.

BRAMPTON.

The chief manor and advowson of the church have belonged to the family of Leman, ever since the year 1600. Robert Le

man, esq; was lord and patron, who having his hall or manor-house here burnt down in 1733, resided at Wickham-market. It is now vested in Thomas Farr, esq. This parish contains 255 inhabitants.

BLYFORD. Ralph de Criktot gave this church to Blithburgh priory before the year 1200, and the Impropriation was granted 30 Henry VIII. to sir Arthur Hopton. The manor is vested in Charles Day, esq. 163 inhabitants.

BRAMFIELD, was the manor of Nicholas de Seagrave, 9th Edward II, but soon after, of

Walter de Norwich. He dying 2nd Edward III. left it to sir John de Norwich, whose executors made it part of the endowment of the College of Mettingham, built by his order. At the dissolution of that college this manor was granted to Thomas Denney; but came shortly after to the Rous's, of Henham; and is now vested in the earl of Stradbrooke. Brook-hall belonged also to Mettingham college; and, in a register belonging to the late Peter le Neve, esq; there was an extent of the manors of Bromfield and Brooke-hall, made 18 Edward IV. The style of the manor now is Bramfield cum Brook-hall.

This church was impropriated to Blithburgh. In the chancel of it there is a noble monument erected to the memory of Arthur Coke, third son of sir Edward Coke and his wife, not unworthy even of Westminster-abbey; and on the pavement there are several black marble stones, for the two ancient families of this parish, Rabbet and Nelson, Bramfield hall, a modern structure, the residence of T. S. Gooch, esq., member for the county, is situated near the church. About a mile distant was another seat, formerly belonging to Thomas Neale, esq., but afterwards used as a farm-house. That gentleman built and endowed an alms-house here for four single persons, who have each a room, and about a rood of land; and one of them has an additional allowance of three pounds per annum for teaching six poor children to read. Mr. Neale's wi

dow, who afterwards married John Fowle, esq. left ten pounds per annum to keep these almshouses in repair, and for the instruction of six more children. Bramfield-hall is now the property of R. Rabbet, esq. This parish contains. 630 inhabitants.

BULCHAMP, or BALDCAMP, which, in the Saxon tongue, expresses bold, fighting hand to hand, is a hamlet of Blithburgh, and said to have received its name from the obstinate engagement in 654, between the Mercians and the East Angles, in which the latter were totally defeated, with the loss of their king and his son. This is a conjecture, strengthened by a tradition eurrent in that part, that the unfortunate monarch was killed in Bulcamp Forest or Wood, as well as by the proximity of Blithburgh, the place of his first interment, to the field of battle. The earl of Stradbrook is lord of the manor.

BUXLOW, was a parish by itself, when the church was standing: but, since the decay of that, it has been consolidated with Knoddishall, viz. by bishop Green 22 February 1721. The family of Jenney have been patrons of the church ever since the year 1435; but there is

no manor.

CHEDISTON.

Robert Vaux or de Vallibus, who came over with the conqueror, and founded a religious house at Pentery in Norfolk, was probably lord here, by his giving the church to that priory. The Pettus's were formerly

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