altar, but within a few years has been removed-being considered, most probably a strange subject to occupy such a place.

St Clement's Church, does not boast of great antiquity. Its internal arrangements consist of two aisles and a nave. In this church lies buried Thomas Eldred, who accompanied Cavendish the voyager, round the world. The following inscription is upon his tomb:

"He that travels the world about,

Seeth God's wonders, and God's works.

"Thomas Eldred travelled the world about and went out of Plimouth ye 2d July, 1586, and arrived in Plimouth again, the 9th of September, 1588."

This church is generally used as the burial place of mariners dying in the town, and a number of tombs recording the decease of sailors are found in the building, and the adjoining churchyard.

St. Helen's church appears to be a building of considerable antiquity, although the exact time of its erection is not ascertained by any authentic record. It has recently undergone considerable repair and enlargement.

St. Margaret's Church, stands on or near the scite of Trinity Chapel, once attached to the priory of the Holy Trinity. As late as the year 1674, a portion of Trinity Church was standing and either a part of this building, or of the ancient priory, forms the boundary line of the wall separating the churchyard from the Park of Christ Church. The interior of the Church presents a curious appearance, the ceiling being singularly painted, and several ancient carvings stand out from the walls. The exterior is a strange mixture of styles, many of the gigantic members of which, are very minutely treated. The roof is of timber and well constructed. The church also contains a curious font. The parliamentary visitors when they visited Suffolk, removed from St. Margaret's the twelve apostles in stone, and desired that twenty or thirty pictures should be taken away and destroyed.

St. Mary at the Tower, is a spacious and commodious building. On the exterior of the porch, is an ancient dial. In the

chancel stands a curious monument erected to the memory of Mr. William Smart, a portman of the town, who died in the year 1600. At the base is painted a view of Ipswich. The inscription contains an acrostic on the name of the individual whose memory it records. There is a fine brass upon the pavement of the middle aisle, aud against the north wall stands a handsome monument, representing a male and female figure kneeling with an open book before them at an altar, attended by two female and two male figures weeping. The females bear each a skull in their laps. This monument is erected to the memory of John Robinson, a portman of Ipswich, who departed this life in 1666, and Elizabeth his wife, who died in 1694. It also records the death of four of their offspring.

On the right hand side of Northgate Street, stands an old picturesque gate-way, anciently belonging to a house erected in 1471, by William Pykenham, Archdeacon of Suffolk. This relic, not of great elevation, is built of brick. It consists of a strong archway with a gable story above, and is supported by buttresses displaying the remains of considerable ornament. The whole is yet in a state of good preservation and appears likely to occupy its present situation for many years.

Besides the remains of antiquity existing in the churches of the town, are to be mentioned many ancient houses, bearing upon them curious carvings in wood. The town of Ipswich, was indeed ornamented with many first-rate houses owned by merchants and others, that might lay claim to magnificence. In the remnants of one of these ancient mansions standing in Tacket Street, formerly a seat of Sir Anthony Wingfield, and now occupied as a small public house called the Tankard, is a room on the ground floor, the panelling of which shews much exquisite carving, and the ceiling, divided into compartments, has pendants of a very beautiful character. In these divisions were sculptured various coats of arms, some of them relating to the armorial bearings of the Wingfield family. Over the fire place is a basso relievo, now mutilated, interpreted by some far-seeing antiquaries as a description of the battle of Bosworth. Others, doubtless

equally worthy as an authority, give it as their opinions that the figures represent the judgement of Paris. The relievo is of so doubtful a character, that without much impropriety, fifty other subjects can be fairly shewn as represented in the groups of figures composing it. Its real application is therefore under any authority, a very doubtful matter, and must always remain so.

Near the old Shire Hall, are the remains of an ancient Hospital called Christ's Hospital. Connected with this Hospital is the Grammar School, the apartment in which the school is held being the old refectory of the convent. The roof of this building is ornamented, with timber ribs forming round arches.

On the present Corn Hill stood the ancient Church of St. Mildred, now converted into the Town Hall; and on the scite occupied by the Corn Market, stood an uncouth timber erection termed the shambles, said to have been built by the father of Cardinal Wolsey. Of this however there is a reasonable degree of doubt.

AN awful visitation of the eastern plague took place in this town, in the first year of James Ist., and dispair filled the hearts of the wretched inhabitants during its prevalence. During the sickness great numbers of the people left Ipswich -the rates could not be collected—and the charges of supporting the sick were so high that they could not be defrayed. In this dilemna money was under the necessity of being borrowed from various parties and a portion of the town property was mortgaged for the re-payment. There are but few particulars known relating to this plague, and the extent to which the sickness prevailed in Ipswich has not been fully investigated. The following extracts from the Great Court Books of the Corporation throw some light upon the subject.

At a Great Court held at Ipswich, 14th July, 1603—1st, James 1st.

It is agreed, that the Waggoners that com from London, shall not be suffered to come into the Towne, before they have

certified unto the Bailiffes upon their Othes, what persons and things they bring therein, and that such things as are suspicious, shall be utterly forbidden, and likewise that the Hoye-men that shall come from London, with having no passengers, shall come no nearer to Towne than Dunham Bridge before they made certificate unto the Bailiffs, that they bring no sickness that is infectious into the Towne.

25th July, 1603—1st James 1st.

It is agreed that Mr. Carnebie, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Parkhurste, shall enquire, and find out of the Towne 4 of the fittest men to attend uppon the infected houses and people, if any shall be, for the buriall of them, and for the deliverie of meate and drink for them, and 2 women for the leyinge of them forthe, and viewing of them and attending to them in their sickness. And that as well, the men and women as the infected, shall be kept at the common charge, and that a collection shall be made of evrie inhabitant charged in the Subsidie Booke, towards the said chardge of the said people, and ev'rie man taxed for land shall paie thereunto 3d. of the pound, and ev'rie one taxed for goods, shall paie after the rate of 2d. in the pounde, and that others that are not in the Subsidie Books, shall be rated by the discretion of the Bailiffs, and the Collectors of the said taxation to be appointed by Mr. Bailiffs.

26th July, 1603—1st James 1st.

It is agreed, John Cole and Wm. Forsdyke shall be employed about the buriall of suche persons as are dead, or shall die within the Towne, and shall have 16d. a day for every day as long as the Bailiffs shall think mete, and they shall remaine in the house builded for them, and they shall have such victualls and things brought them, and such daylie wages as they shall require, and such persons shall go abroad in the Towne when occasion shall serve, about the said business, with white wands or rodds in their hands, so as to be known from other men. And it is agreed, that the persons that shall die, shall be wound uppe in coarse Soutage, and that Anne Spalding shall have 3s. allowed her weeklie, and meate and drincke, for her

attendance upon Garrod and his wife and children, and such others as shall be sicke of the infection during the time she may be employed, and that John Kirke, shall attend upon the said persons, and fetch them victuals and other necessaries, and shall be allowed 7s. a-week from this time.

18th September, 1603—1st James Ist.

It is agreed, that noe Shippes, Hoyes, or Vessells, whatsoever belonging to this Towne, shall be brought any nearer the Towne, than Greenwiche Nesse, and if any of the owners or masters of the said shippes, or other vessels, or anie of them shall offende contrarie to this order, that then he or they, soe offendinge therin, shall be imprisoned during Mr. Bailiffs pleasure.

And it is agreed, that there shall be warding ev'rie daie in the weeke, at the places hereafter named att Stoke Bridge, att Handford Bridges, att Mr. Durrell's House, and att Stoning Crosse by two sufficient householders at ev'rie of the said places, who shall examine such men, as are suspicious, or to be suspected, for bringinge the sicknesse into this Towne, and if any suspicious person shall com or bringe goods into the Towne, then they to signifie the same unto the Hedberrow, that shall be appoynted to overveiwe them to the extent that Mr. Bailiffs may be informed thereof.

11th January, 1604-2nd James 1st.

It is agreed that Cole and Forsdyke shall have paid them for the burial of such as shall die of the Infection, within the said Towne and liberties thereof, 3s. 6d. a-piece weeklie for the burial, and carrying them to burial, and 6d. for the buriall of one that shall die of the infection being poore, and that Cole's wife shall have paid her 12d. a week for serchinge of them that shall die of the infection, which monye shall be paid to the Chamblins of the Towne, during the Townes pleasure.

23rd January, 1604—2nd James 1st.

It is agreed, that the weeklie payment to Cole his wife, and Forsdyke for the buriale and serchinge of the infected persons, shall contynue until Thursdaie come se'nnight, and if in the mean