overflows, and makes Stour-mere, and then collecting his waters within banks, visits Clare, a noted Town, which shews you the ruines of an old Castle. Thence by long Melford rejoycing to see the fair Hospitall built there by Sr. VVilliam Cordall, he passeth on to Sudbury (Southbury) once the chief Town of this Shire, and yet will not easily yield priority to any other: for it is populous, and a rich clothing Town, governed by a Major yearly chosen out of seven Aldermen.
8. Edwardston is not far off, a Town of small note now, and after a few miles Stour is en∣creased by the access of the little river Breton, which, in no long course, washes two Towns of ancient Names; near the springs, Bretenham, now a little one, and having no face of a City; and somewhat Eastward, Ofton, i. e. the Town of Offa K. of Mercians; beneath which is Hadley, a Town of good note for clothing.
9. Stour having received Breton runs down with it, not far from Bentley, and after a few miles near Arwenton, the Seat of the illustrious Family of the Parkers, drowns himself in the Ocean, meeting with the river Orwell or Gipping.
10. Orwell floweth even out of the belly of this Country, from two Fountains, the one near VVulpet, a Market Town (Luporum fossa) the other at Gipping a poor Village. At Norton, by it, K. Henry 8. sought for Golden Mines in vain, and the pits speak as much.
11. Along the same River are seen Stow, and Needham, two Market Towns, and Himingston