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SVFFOLKE, by the Saxons called Suð-folc,* 1.1 in regard of them which were seated in Norfolke, is a Country most plenteous and plea∣sant for habitation. It is separated from Norfolke, by the Rivers of the lesser Ouse, and Waveney, whose heads meet almost in the midst of her Verge,* 1.2 and that very neer together: the one taking course East, and the other full West, upon which part Cambridge-shire doth wholly confront. The South side is severed by Stoure from Essex, and the East together washed with the Germane Seas.
* 1.3(2) The Aire is good, sweet, and delectable, and in some parts, of some of our best Physicians, held to be the best in the Land: the Soile is rich, fruitfull, and with all things well replenis••ed; in a word, nothing wanting for pleasure or profit.
* 1.4(3) The forme thereof is somewhat Cressant, shooting up narrower into the North, and spreading wider towards the South, whose broadest part is about twenty miles: but from East to West much more; for from Easton point (the furthest of this Shire, yea of all Britaine into the Sea) unto great Ouse River, her Westerne bounder, are fourtie five miles, and the whole in circumference, about one hundred fourtie-sixe.
* 1.5(4) Anciently this part of the Iland was possessed by the Iceni, who as it seemeth by Tacitus, joyned in Amitie with the Romanes a mighty people (saith he) and never shaken with wars before the reigne of Claudius,* 1.6 but then by Osto∣rius were vanquished,* 1.7 though not without great slaughter of the Romanes; and in a Battle against them, M. Ostorius the sonne of the Generall, wonne great honour in saving of a Romane Citizens life; so ready were they to give and receive Honours to themselves, but sleightly to passe over and to smoother farre greater exploits of the Britaines: which notwithstanding long in these parts they could not do: for the wrongs of the Icenians growing intolerable, who by the Romane Souldiers were put out of their right∣full possessions, their Princes accounted no better then Slaves, and their Queene whipped in most ignominious manner; under Bodua they wrought their revenge, as in the Historie (Christ assisting) shall be further related.
Next to these Icenians, were the Saxons that got their footing into these parts, and of them, this with Norfolke, Cambridge-shire, and the Ile of Ely, was made their East-Angles Kingdome; though as it seemeth ever in subjection either to the Mercians, or to the Kings of Kent: whose off-spring ending in S. Edmund the Martyr, after the Danes had laid it most desolate, Edward the Elder subdued it unto his West-Saxons Monarchy: and that likewise ending in King Edward the Confessor, many noble Normans got their possessions in these parts, whose Off-spring are plenteously replenished in this Shire to this day.
* 1.8(5) The commodities of this Shire are many and great, whereof the chiefest consisteth in Corne, in Cattle, Cloth, Pasturage, Woods, Sea-Fish and Fowle; and as Abbo Florie∣censis hath depainted, this County is of green and passing fresh hue pleasantly replenished with Orchards, Gardens & Groves: thus he described it above sixe hundred years since, and now we find as he hath said; to which we may adde their gaine from the Paile, whose Cheeses are traded not only through∣out England, but into Germany, France, and Spaine, and are highly commended by Pantaleon the Physician,* 1.9 both for colour and taste.
* 1.10(6) And had Ipswich (the onely eye of this Shire) been as fortunate in her Surname, as she is blessed with Com∣merce and buildings, she might worthily have borne the title of a Citie: neither ranked in the lowest rowe, whose trade, circuit, and seat, doth equall most places of the Land besides.
It seemeth this Towne hath beene walled about, both by a Rampire of earth, mounted along her North and West parts, and places of entrance where gates have stood; which no doubt, by the Danes were cast downe, in the yeare of Christ Iesus, 991. when they sacked with spoyle all these Sea-coasts: and again in the yeare one thousand, laid the streets desolate, and the houses on heaps: yet afterwards recovering both breath and beauty, her buildings from Stoke-Church in the South, to S. Margarets in the North, now containe 1900. paces, and from S. Helens in the East, to S. Matthews Church in the West,* 1.11 are no lesse then 2120. full of streets plenteously inhabited, wherein are twelve Parish-Churches seated, besides them suppressed; such were Christ-Church, S. Georges, S. Iames, the White, the Blacke and Grey-Friers. The Site of this Towne is removed from the Equator, unto the degree 52.25 minutes: and by Mer∣cators observation, from the first West-points 22. degrees, 9 minutes: and is yearely governed by two Bailiffes, and ten Port-men,* 1.12 all wearing Scarlet, with twenty foure of their Common-Counsell in Purple: a Recorder, a Towne-Clerke, five Sergeants, whereof one is for the Admiraltie, a Beadle, and Common-Crier, all in blew, with the Towns Armes on their Sleeves.
The other Eye of this Shire is the Saxons Bederic∣gueord.* 1.13 By Abbo the Royall Towne, wherein at the day-breake of the Saxons conversion, Sigebert King of the East Angles founded a Christian Church: and upon the occasion of King Edmunds buriall (who at Hoxon was shot to death) hath been ever since called S. Edmunds-bury,* 1.14 where was built to his honour one of the fairest Monasteries in the world, hegun by King Canute, much affrighted with the seeming appearance of that Martyrs Ghost, who to expiate the sacrilegious impietie of his Father Suenus, enriched the place with many endowments, and offered up his owne Crowne upon the holy Martyrs Tombe. For the beautie and buildings of this Abbey and Towne,* 1.15 let Leyland for me declare: The Sunne (saith he) hath not seen a Citie more finely seated so delicately upon the easie ascent of an hill, with a River running on the East-side; nor a more stately Abbey either for revenues or incomparable magnificence, in whose prospect ap∣peareth rather a City then a Monastery, so many Gates for en∣terance, and some of them brasse, so many Towers, and a most glorious Church, upon which attend three others, standing all in the same Church-yard all of them passing fine, and of a curi∣ous workmanship. Whose ruines lie in the dust, lamenting their fall, moving the beholders to pitie their case.
Neere unto this Town a great Battle was fought by Ro∣bert Bossu Earle of Leicester,* 1.16 against his Soveraigne King Henry the second:* 1.17 but was worthily overcome by Richard Lucy, the Kings high Iustice, himself and wife taken, with many Flemings and Engligshmen slaine.
(7) Other places worthy of remembrance this Coun∣tie affords; such is Exning in the West,* 1.18 formerly famous for the birth of S. Audrey, daughter to King Anna, one of the three names of the Shires division.* 1.19 Rendlisham in the East, where Redwald the first Christian in this Kingdome held his Court: and Hadley in her South,* 1.20 where Guthrum the Dane whom Elfred baptized, was buried. And things of stranger note are the limits of the East-Angles Territo∣ries, running along Newmarket heath, vulgarly called the Devils ditch: the like fable is formally told by Nubrigensis,* 1.21 that at Wulpet in the heart of this Shire two green boves of Satyres kind arose out of the ground,* 1.22 from the Antipodes; beleeve it if you will: and Ralfe Coggshall in the Monu∣ments of Colchester, declareth that a Fish in all parts like a man, was taken neere Orford, and for six moneths was kept in the Castle, whence after he escaped againe to the Sea.
As strange, but most true, was a crop of Pease that with∣out tillage or sowing grew in the Rocks,* 1.23 betwixt this Or∣ford and Aldebrough, in the year 1555. When by unseason∣able weather a great dearth was in the Land: there in Au∣gust were gathered above one hundred Quarters, and in blossoming remained as may more, where never grasse grew, or earth ever seene, but hard solide Rockes three yards deep under their roots.
(8) Places separated from common use, and devoted to God and his service by religious Princes,* 1.24 were at S. Ed∣munds, Ipswich, Ikleworth, ••lithborow, Clare, Leston, Burgh Castle, wherein Sigebert King of the East-Angles entered the profession of a Monke: but was thence forced by his people, to fight against the Mercians: in which Battle he was slaine. And Dunwich,* 1.25 where Foelix founded his Epi∣scopall See. These with many others in this County were suppressed in the fall of the Monasteries, and their Reve∣news assumed by King Henry the Eight.
(9) This Shire is principally divided into three parts,* 1.26 which are called the Celdable, S. Edmunds, and S. Audreys Liberties, subdivided into twenty-two Hundreds, and them againe into 575. Parish-Churches, wherein are seated sea∣ven Castles, and twenty eight Market Townes,* 1.27 whose names are in the Table annexed.