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Dennington, Brundish, the four Ilketsals, and Cratfield.

There is but one assize for the whole county; but, at every assize, there are two grand juries; one for the geldable, and the other for the libererty of Bury St. Edmunds. Suffolk and Norfolk were formerly under the government of one high-sheriff, till the 17th. year of queen Elizabeth; when Robert Ashfield, of Netherhall in Pakenham, Esq; was made the first high-sheriff of this county, distinct from the county of Norfolk.

The ancient kingdom of the east-angles contained little more than the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and from hence arose that close connexion which so long subsisted between them. William the conqueror granted the earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk, to his cousin Roger Bigod: it continued in that family to the thirty-fifth year of king Edward I. when Roger Bigod, earl Marshal, died without issue; having first surrendered all his honours, manors, &c. to the king; from whom he received them again by a regrant, with a limitation to himself and Alice his wife, and the issue of their two bodies; and, for want of such issue with remainder to the king and his heirs. But this county did never give a separate title till the eleventh year of king Edward the third; when that king created Robert de Ufford, earl of Suffolk. He was

succeeded by his son William, who died without issue male, and the title became extinct.

King Richard II. in the ninth year of his reign created Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk he was succeeded by Michael his son, who was slain in the battle of Agincourt. William de la Pole, son of the last Michael, was created by king Edward V1. marquis, and afterwards duke of Suffolk; but was unlawfully beheaded on the gunwale of the boat that was carrying him to France. John the son of William succeeded to his Father's honours; having married Elizabeth, sister of king Edward IV. He left many children, and was succeeded in his honours and estate first by John his son, who was killed in the battle of Stoke-upontrent, in 1487; and then by Edmond his second son who being too nearly related to the crown, was in 5 king Henry VIII. beheaded in the tower, and the title became extinct.

King Henry VIII. then created Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk: he left two sons, and both died without issue, under age. But Henry Gray marquis of Dorset, who married the lady Frances, eldest daughter of Charles Brandon by Mary the French queen, was created Duke of Suffolk 11th October, 5 Edward VI. the lady Jane his daughter, was on the demise of king Edward, proclaimed queen; who suffered for the rashness of her friends; and her father was

himself beheaded 23rd February, 2 queen Mary I. and the title was once more extinct. It continued so till 1 James I. when Thomas Howard, a younger son of Thomas the second duke of Norfolk, was made earl of Suffolk; and in this family the earldom hath continued ever since.

Suffolk returns sixteen members to Parliament, two for the county and two for each of the towns of Aldborough, Dunwich, Eye, Ipswich, Orford, Sudbury and Bury. St. Edmund's.

A stranger coming from London to visit the eastern, or geldable part of Suffolk, would probably enter the county at Stratford or Cattiwade bridges, in the hundred of Samford. We therefore shall begin with that hundred, and then take the several hundreds that lie in or near the road leading from Ipswich to Yarmouth, viz. Carlford and Colneis, Loes, Willford, Plomesgate, Blything, Mutford, and Lothingland. Then returning to Beccles, we shall take the remaining geldable hundreds, viz. Wangford, Hoxne, Threadling, Hartesmere, Stow, Bosmere and Claydon. The hundreds in the liberty of St. Edmondsbury will be taken in this order, Thingoe, Thedwastre, Blackbourn, Lackford, Risbridge, Baberg, and Cosford, but, that any place may be more easily found, the towns and villages in each hundred will be placed alphabetically.

IPSWICH,

WITH ITS SUBURBS, PRECINCTS AND LIBERTIES.

THE spot on which Ipswich stands is so hap pily situated, that it could not fail of inviting Inhabitants to settle here, soon after this corner of the island was peopled To strangers who enter the town either by what is now the London road, or by the Yormouth road, it seems to stand low but when a traveller approaches the town by the ancient London road, which was over Cattiwade and Bourn bridges, upon Wherstead hill, he views it to more advantage; situated, as in fact it is, on the side of a hill, with a south aspect, declining by a gradual and easy descent to the quay where the foot of it is washed by the Orwell. The soil is most healthy, which is sand, crag, or gravel. The hills which rise above it to the north and east, contribute greatly to the convenience of it; not only as they shelter the town from those bleak and inclement winds, but as they are well stored with springs of most excellent water; and may be considered as perpetual reservoirs, deposited there by providence, to secure and protect the town from the dread

E

ful ravages of fire. To this happy circumstance, (such as few places can boast) we may in a great measure impute it, that though many fires have happened here within the memory of persons now living, not one of them has raged to any violent degree.

The town of Ipswich takes its name from its being seated where the fresh river Gippen or Gipping empties itself into the Orwell. It is spelt in domesday, Gyppeswid, Gippeswiz, Gyppewycus, Gyppewic; afterwards, by dropping the Guttural, it was written Yppyswyche; and then, as our spelling improved, by leaving out the superfluous letters, Ipswich.

Ipswich strictly speaking, that is, within the gates, was not of very large extent. It was inclosed with a rampart and ditch, which was broken down by the Danes, when they pillaged the town twice within the space of ten years, about the year of our Lord 991, and 1000. But this fortification was repaired and renewed in the fifth year of king John. There are not the least remains of more than three of the gates now standing; but, it is certain, there were more. For, in the ancient partition of the town into four Letes or Wards, as two of these were called North-gate-Lete, and West-gate- Lete, so the two others were called East-gate-Lete and South-gate-Lete.

We read likewise of Lose-gate, which stood

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