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at the ford through the salt river, though the rampart has in many places been broken through, and in some entirely levelled, there are still considerable remains of it; and it is easily traced from the bowling-green garden (or Grey-Fryers walk) St Matthew's street. From the ruins it is plain that all the parishes of St. Austin, St. Clement, and St. Hellen, and great part of the parishes of St. Margaret and St. Matthew, were not included within the gates; and these are accordingly called in old writings, the suburbs of Ipswich.

But if we consider the borough in a larger sense as including not only the town with its suburbs, but the four hamlets of Stoke-Hall, Brooks-Hall, Wykes-Ufford, and Wykes-Bishop, which comprehends the whole precincts and liberties of the borough, the extent of it is very considerable. For it reaches from east to west, that is, from the place on Rushmere common, where the bounds of the liberties running past Rushmere hall-gate, and along the other lane cross the Woodbridge road opposite the gallows; to that place in Whitton street, where the bounds come out of the lane leading from Bramford, cross to Norwich and Bury road, and then go into the lane leading to Whitton church, the distance is better than four miles. In like manner, from north to south, or near it, that is from that place beyond Westerfield green,

where the bounds enter the road leading from Witnesham to Ipswich, and so to Bourn bridge; it is about the same distance; but if, instead of going on the west of the Orwell, you go from the aforesaid place through St. Clement's street on the east side of it to Donham bridge, by John's Ness, the distance is greater.

These bounds of the liberties of the borough have been often ascertained; but the last determination concerning them was in 13 king Henry VIII. when a felon fugitive left goods behind him at his house in Whitton-street, which the bailiffs seized in right of the borough; but the exchequer for the crown in the county of Suffolk hearing of it, he took away the goods by force, pretending they where not within the liberties of Ipswich. The bailiffs complained of this violence, whereupon a commission was directed to the abbot of St. Edmundsbury, Robert Curzon, knight, Lord Curzon, sir Robert Drury, sir Richard Wentworth, sir Philip Tilney, Lionel Talmage, esq. and John Sulyard, esq. to enquire how far the bounds of the liberties of Ipswich extend. So a jury was empannelled, and their return filed in Chancery who, upon their oaths said, that the said liberties did extend according to the bounds in the said return above-mentioned; and the said B. B. and C. of Ipswich have enjoyed, the said liberties and franchises without mind of man.

Besides the precincts on land before mentioned, the borough of Ipswich did always claim, as appendant to the borough and parcel thereof, a precinct and jurisdiction by water on the Orwell; the extent of which has likewise, more than once, been ascertained: particularly in 2 Richard II, when a commission was issued for that purpose, to John de Sutton, Knight, and Richard Walgrave, Knight, accordingly a jury was summoned at Shotley, who said upon their oaths, that the port of the town of Ipswich doth extend itself from the said town to the Polleshead and had belonged time out of mind, and doth now belong, and is parcel of the said town, and of the farm which they hold of our Lord the King, &c.

The streets of Ipswich, like those of most other ancient towns, which have not been destroyed by fire and rebuilt, do not strike a stranger's eye, as they would if they were more regular; but they contain many good houses, which generally are better within, than their outward appearance gives reason to expect. One favourable circumstance is almost peculiar to this place, which is, that most of the better houses, even in the heart of the town, have convenient gardens adjoining to them, which make them more airy and healthy, an well as more pleasant and delightful.

The many walks and rides which abound

with a variety of pleasing views, together with the goodness of the roads in the environs of Ipswich also contribute greatly towards making it agreeable, but however entertaining these prospects may be. they are far exceeded by those that the river Orwell affords; which, to speak cautiously, at least for the extent of it, is one of the most beautiful salt rivers in the World. The beauty of it arises chiefly from its being bounded with high land on both sides, almost the whole way. These hills on each side are enrichen and adorned with almost every object that can make a landscape agreeable; such as churches, mills, gentlemen's seats, villages and other buildings, woods, noble avenues, parks whose pales reach down to the water's edge, well stored with deer and other cattle; all these and more are so happily disposed and diversified, as if nature and art had jointly contrived how they might most agreeably entertain and delight the eye. Such are the side-views. As a passenger sails from Ipswich, when he enters what is properly called Orwell Haven, the scene terminates on the right, with a view of Harwich and the high coast of Essex; on the left with Landguard-fort, and the high land of Walton and Felixtow cliffs behind it; and with a prospect of the main ocean before him. As he returns to Ipswich, the scene closes with a distant view of that fair town, displaying it

self to some advantage, and forming a sort of half-moon as the river winds.

Before the conquest, and for many years after it, Ipswich was in the same condition as all other boroughs that where in the ancient Demesne of the crown. The king sometimes held these boroughs himself, and appointed one or more officers who were called Propositi, or Provosts; whose business it was to govern the borough, to superintend the management of the Demesne lands, to receive the Gild, Hanse, and all other duties and imposts (many of which there were) under the Norman kings; these officers were called Ballivi, or Bailiffs.

King John granted the first charter of this town, by which it appears the king granted to the burgesses the borough of Ipswich, with all its appurtenances, liberties, &c. to be holden of him and his heirs, to them and their heirs hereditarily, by the payment of the right and usual annual farm, of thirty-five pounds; and one hundred shillings more at the exchequer, by the hands of the Provost of Ipswich, &c. II. He exempted them from the payment of all taxes under the names of Tholl, Lestage. Stallage, Passage, Pontage, and all other customs throughout his land and seaports. III. That they should have a merchant's Gild and Hanse of their own. IV. That no person shall be quartered upon them without their consent, or

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