years from those of Redwald.

The Danes having overrun a large portion of the territory of East Anglia, demolished the Castle of Thetford, and drove King Edmund, afterwards Martyr and Saint, to take refuge from their bloody pursuit within the strong walls of this castle. These ruthless pursuers, however, like a cloud of locusts, never quitted the territory which they overran, until they had either exterminated what they found therein, or became exterminated themselves. Edmund finding that the castle, although full of strength, was still unable to withstand successfully a lengthened siege by so powerful and persevering an enemy, quitted it, and took to the forest for protection. Lying within the woods of Eglesdune, he was at length discovered by his pursuers, treated with the greatest ignominy, and deprived of life.

Edmund's flight placed the possession of the castle in the hands of his murderers, but many battles, some ending in victory, being fought by the Saxons to regain its keeping, it changed hands several times. Passing to another era, Edward, the Confessor, is known to have held, and to have bestowed it on Thane Ailmairus, a powerful Baron, who held large tracts of lands in Norfolk.

We might mention here, that upon the introduction of the Normans, the castle was of that importance and strength, as to be retained by the Conqueror in his own hands, but the lands attached to the estate were bestowed, as usual, on some of the Norman chieftains: From William, it passed into the possession of Rufus, who kept it strictly in his own possession throughout the whole of his reign.

The ingratiation of Henry I. with the nobles, in order effectually to secure his power and Crown, brought into notice Roger Bigod, who held a portion of the lands of Framlingham, as tenant of Earl Hugh. This Roger, had received from William the Conqueror, no less than one hundred and seventeen Manors in Suffolk, and Henry, finding it still necessary to secure the good efforts of this already too powerful man, granted to him the Castle and lands of Framlingham, appointed him to an

official appointment in his regal establishment, and made him a witness to the promulgation of his new laws.

commence.

From the period that the Bigods held possession of the Castle of Framlingham, its more prominent history may be said to The race which descended from this stern stock, for many years—indeed through several generations—played a high game in most of the important affairs of the nation. Self aggrandisement, and the love of adding to their possessions, appear to have been the ruling passions which animated this family in all its deeds. On some occasions the Bigods supported the Court, or the King, and at other periods, offered opposition and insult to the Monarch, totally regardless of his supremacy. The effect of their favour, or opposition, told sometimes for the freedom of the people, and at others, for the power of the throne and the strength of the barons. Wise, of great personal prowess, and backed by numerous retainers, they seized the moment for prosecuting their designs most propitious for ending in success. The scent once laid on, no check could be offered with any probability of proving a conquering obstacle, and the Bigods, almost uniformly emerged from whatever struggle in which they were engaged, considerably benefited, either in possession or power.

The Castle of Framlingham first passed into the possession of Roger Bigod in 1101. This Chieftain died, in 1107, and lies buried in the Priory of Black Canons, at Thetford, having been a considerable benefactor to the Establishment. William Bigod son and heir of Roger, perished with the young Prince William, on their return from Harfleur, in Normandy, in consequence of the intoxication of the crew of the vessel in which they had embarked. His successor was Hugh Bigod, brother to William, who appears to have inherited the peculiarities of the family in a very remarkable degree.

This bold Baron, upon the death of Henry, in order to further the designs of Stephen upon the Crown of England, and at the same time increase his own advancement with the Monarch, took a solemn oath that the deceased King had, on his death bed

disinherited his daughter Maude. The Sovereignty thus fell into the hands of Stephen, who wishing to reward the acts of an individual whom he supposed strongly attached to his person and cause, bestowed upon him the Earldom of East Anglia. The only object which prompted Hugh Bigod to aid Stephen, was the benefit likely to arise from personal service, and he received the gifts and honours of his Sovereign, with seeming modesty. An opportunity soon after presenting itself, whereby he might again increase the riches of his coffers, and consolidate his power, he embraced the propitious offer with villainous alacrity. This was nothing less than espousing the very cause which he had hitherto condemned-that of Maude. He, therefore, raised his banner in favour of the Princess, waged war against the Monarch whom he had been mainly instrumental in seating upon the Throne, and recklessly steeped his hands in the blood of a civil contest, which raging throughout the land, spread misery and desolation both upon the noble and the peasant.

It might have been supposed that this robber upon a large scale had now completed his acts of iniquity, and was content to rest upon his tarnished laurels. Not so, however. The decline of life brought no change in his desires, weakened not his activity, nor destroyed the love of power, or the passion of avarice. He saw that the greatest gains were most likely to be obtained by striking high, and he again attacked the seated Monarch. Upon the death of Stephen, Hen. II. ascended the Throne, and although at first despoiling Bigod of the Castle of Framlingham for his perfidious conduct during the reign of Stephen, he at length restored it, and took the formidable nobleman into his confidence. The crafty Earl, however-whom no kindness seems to have bound or power satisfied-opposed his benefactor in the rebellion against their father by Henry's sons. As has been before stated, he gave quarters to the Flemish Army under Leicester, at Framlingham, and at the disastrous issue of the Battle of Fornham St. Genevieve, escaped with his life, and kept up the cause in another part of the country, hurling defiance both at the King and his supporters.

The period, however, was now rapidly approaching when the indomitable spirit of the marauder should suffer ignominy and defeat. The Nobles of England, most probably jealous of his mighty power, and fearing his great prowess and restless disposition, under the pretence of putting an end to a war which was depopulating the land, called their forces together and marched against him. Closely pressed, he had almost fallen into the hands of his enemies, who would assuredly have shewn him no quarter, when he contrived by means of bribes to procure a peace, and journeying on to Dover, passed with a large army of Flemings into the kingdom of France. After the fervent spirit manifested against him had in some measure cooled, he made another formidable irruption into his native country, and penetrating as far as Norwich, plundered that city, and setting it on fire, almost consumed it from the earth.

It was now seen that the great disturber of the peace of the kingdom must be destroyed, or the land would be undone. The King roused himself-called on his subjects to aid him in the enterprize, and marching against the blood-thirsty Earl, destroyed his Castle at Walton. Locked up in his strong hold at Framlingham, Bigod determined to give the King battle; but the disparity between the numbers of his garrison and those of the army arrayed against him, induced him to surrender. This place of strength was then dismantled by Henry, and rendered incapable of defence. Hostages were given by Bigod for his future loyalty. He paid a fine of one thousand marks to the King, and humbled and despised, he retired to his castle at Bungay. He was restored however to his rank and honours, but restless and discomfited, and having moreover the eye of the King upon him, he engaged in a crusade against the infidels, in company with the Earl of Flanders. He soon however, returned from his expedition, and died in 1178, at the good old age of 78, as much hated and detested for his crimes as he was feared for his prowess and persevering spirit. He was buried in the Monastery of Black Cluniac Monks at Thetford, which, as a sort of salvo for the sins of his soul, he established in that town.

This nobleman, at the latter end of his career, might be said, like the warlike tribes of the desert, to have had his hand raised against every man, and every man's hand raised against him. It is recorded, that when upon the point of surrendering the castle of Framlingham into the hands of Henry, he made use of the following expression: "Were I in my Castle of Bungay, upon the waters of Waveney, I would ne care for the King of Cockney." Thus exhibiting that his spirit was unsubdued even in the very moment of surrender.

The internal condition of the building at this period, and the style of living which prevailed among the sturdy warriors of the time is only to be gathered from contemporaneous history of other places. A rude state of magnificence prevailed among those barons, who either by their possessions or the success attending their marauding exploits, contrived to find the means, of keeping up both power and state. Jealous with each others' strength, and with a watchful eye upon the movements of the sovereign, they were always prepared for plunging at once into the depths of war, to seize the lands of their neighbours or cripple the power of the King. A vast number of retainers were, therefore, at all times kept within the residence of the chief provided with arms and other muniments of war, and sworn to support the presiding Baron both with life and fortune.

In the time of Edward 1st, when the castle was bestowed upon Robert de Brotherton, son of Hugh Bigod, the neighbouring grounds were disforested and changed into a park. This park included within its scite a large lake, reported to have been naivgable; and the source of the river Ore, which streaming on from this point, and receiving in its meandering course the tribute of many brooks and streams, falls into the sea in the neighbourhood of Orford. This lake supplied the fosse of the Castle with water, and a drawbridge stretching across, was defended by a huge portcullis, and the strongest tower of the Castle. Within this park-like domain, hunted the lords paramount of Framlingham, and as a proof that it was well stocked with the neccessary animals of chase, it is found by