England Described, Treatise · County 34
Suffolk.
IT hath on the Weſt-ſide Cambridgeſhire; Southfolk or people in reſpect of Norfolk.on the South the River Stour, which divideth it from Eſſex; on the Eaſt-ſide the German-Sea, and on the North two little Rivers, ouſe the leaſt, and Waveney, which flowing out (as it were) of the ſame fountain, runne divers wayes, and ſever it apart from Norfolk.
It was famous for worthy Miniſters in the very beginning of Reformation. In the entrance of Queen Elizabeth to the Crown, it was moved at the Council-Table, Whether it was not dangerous (for ſome Politick reſpects) to alter the Religion before eſtabliſhed? Sir Nicholas Bacon (who was of the County of Suffolk) demanded, Which was the true Religion acccording to Scripture, the Proteſtant or Popiſh? it being anſwered, the Proteſtant, Leave that to God then (ſaid he) to defend it.
It is a large Countrey and full of Havens, of a fat and fertile ſoil (unleſſe it be Eaſtward) being compounded of Clay and Marle, by means whereof there are every where moſt rich and goodly Corn-fields, with Paſtures as battable for grazing and feeding of Cattel.
Great ſtore of Cheeſes are there made, which to the great commodity of the Inhabitants are vented into all parts of England: nay into Germany, France and Spain alſo.
There are alſo Woods and Parks.
New-Market a Town lately built, as the very name imports.
Here lieth out a great way round about, a large plain, named of this Town, New-Market-Heath, conſiſting of a ſandy and barren ground, yet green withall.
There are great Ditches, called, The Devils Ditches.
St. Edmunds-Bury, or Bury, a renowned Town.
A place for ſituation and wholſomeneſſe of air ſo excellent, that Camden ſaith, Sol non vidit urbem ſitu elegantiorem. Many of the Gentry live there.
There are two Churches in one Churchyard, where there are Lectures ſeveral dayes in the week.
Here was born Richardus de Bury Here Biſhop Steven Gardiner was born.Biſhop of Durham, the Governour of Edward the Third when young, and famous eſpecially for a work which he entituled Philobiblos, in the Preface of which he confeſſeth, Ecſtatico quodam librorum amore potenter ſe abreptum. Godw. de Praeſul. Ang. Comment.He was well acquainted with Petrark the Italian, and other learned men of that age. Bradwardine Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Richard Fitzralph, Armachanus, Walter Burleigh, Robert Halcot, and other moſt famous men of that age were his Chaplains.
Lidgate a ſmall Village, yet in this reſpect not to be paſſed over in ſilence, becauſe it brought into the world John Lidgate the Monk, whoſe wit may ſeem to have been framed and ſhapen to the very Muſes themſelves: ſo brightly reſhine in his Engliſh Verſes, all the pleaſant graces and elegancies of ſpeech, according to that age.
Clare a noble Village, it gave name Stoke Clare the Dukes of Clarence.to the right noble Family of the Clares, Earls of Clare.
Sudbury, that is, the South-Burgh, it is populous and wealthy by reaſon of cloathing there.
Mont-chenſie.
Nettleſted.
Offton the Town of Off a King of the Mercians.
Lancham a pretty Mercat.
Hadley a Town of good note for making of cloaths.
Higham.
Bentley.
Walpet, that is, the Wolves-pit, a Mercat Town.
Stow and Needham two little Mercat Towns.
Ipſwich *A large, ſweet, well watered Town, a Town in Orchards. Here was born Cardinal Wolſey, of whom ſee a pithy deſcription in Herberts Henry the 8th, pag. 314, 315.a fair Town reſembling a City, ſituate in a ground ſomewhat low: which is the Eye of this Shire, as having an Haven commodious enough; fenced in times paſt with a trench and rampire, of good trade and ſtored with wares, well peopled and full of Inhabitants, adorned with twelve Churches, and with goodly large and ſtately Edifices, plentifull in ſhipping.
Mendleſham, there is a Market and Fair.
Ufford the ſeat in times paſt of Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk.
The roof of this Church and other parts of the Quire are curiouſly engraven with ſundry kinds of Works and Pictures, all burniſht and guilt with gold.
Weevers Ancient Funer. Mon.
Rendeliſham, that is, Rendils Manſion place.
Woodbridge a little Town beautified with fair houſes.
Framlingham-Caſtle, a very fair and beautifull Caſtle, fortified with Bank, Ditch, and Walls of great thickneſſe, wherein are thirteen Towers; and inwardly furniſhed with buildings right commodious and neceſſary.
Parrham a little Town; Barons Willoughbey of Parrham.
Oreford.
Aldburgh, that is, the old Burgh, or the Burgh upon the River Ald. An Harbour very commodious for Sailers and Fiſhermen, and thereby well frequented.
Dunwich, it lieth now deſolate.
Blithborow a ſmall Town, it hath a Mercat and a Fair.
Southwold a Town well frequented through the benefit of an Haven.
Wingfield, it hath given name to an ancient and renowned Family.
Dunnington the habitation of the ancient Family of the Rouſſes.
Heuningham the reſidence of a Family of that name of very great Antiquity.
Haleſworth a Mercat Town.
Hoxon, ennobled by reaſon of King Edmunds Martyrdom.
Brome, there dwelt a long time the Family of Cornwalleis of Knights degree: of whom Sir John Cornwalleis was Steward of Edward the Sixth his houſhold while he was Prince; and his Sonne Sir Thomas, for his wiſdom and faithfulneſſe became one of …he Privy-Councel to Queen Mary, and Controller of her Royal Houſe.
Eaye an Iſland.
Beddingfield, it gave the name to an ancient and worſhipfull Family.
Flixton, or Felixton, ſo named of Faelix the firſt Biſhop of theſe parts.
Mettingham, where there is a Caſtle.
Luthingland of Luthing the Lake.
Comerley Town.
Burgh-Caſtle, now ruined.
Sommerly-Hall, my Lady Wentworths Houſe, famous for fair Walks and Ponds. There is one long Walk encompaſſed with Fir-trees on each ſide.
The Pariſhes in this County amount to the number of five hundred ſeventy five.