whom was Sir Edmund Reeve,* of Stratton, in Norfolk, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, who died in 1647. From this family it came to Gerard Van Heythuson, Esq., and his heirs; and afterwards to the Anguishes, who sold the mesne manor to Lady Graves, (then Miss Susanna Blacknell) of Normanston; but the paramountship remained with the Anguishes, whose descendant now enjoys it. The church living is a rectory, which, according to Ecton, at the time the King's books were compiled, was valued at £14. 13s. 4d.: the Rev. John Grove Spurgeon is the incumbent.

In 1764, the half hundred of Mutford and Lothingland was incorporated by act of parliament for the relief of the poor, and in two years afterwards, a house of industry was erected here for their reception, which is supported by twentyfour parishes within, or constituting the hundred. The house, a large building of red brick, with lodgings for the governor and matron, is well suited to the purpose, and contains at this time, one hundred and fifty-eight persons. At one period, however, three hundred and twenty-one paupers were accommodated, many of whom were sick of a contagious fever.

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The bridge across the Waveney, or more properly an arm of Lake Lothing, named Mutford bridge, was built in 1760, and connects the half * There is a sumptuous monument, in Stratton church, to Sir Edmund and his lady.

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hundred of Lothing with the Mutford division. It is a plain brick structure, with a single arch, of sufficient span to admit of the passage of wherries and small boats, engaged in passing between Lowestoft and the neighbouring towns on the Waveney: near it, is Oulton public-house, and a few respectable cottages. A road on the right, leads the traveller to an excellent white brick mansion, distinguished by the appellation of Oulton High-house, situated in the centre of a fine lawn, the front commanding a very good prospect of the country, and shaded at the back by some lofty and very noble chesnuts. This house, which gives name to the estate attached to it, is the property of Lady Graves, and at present the residence of the Rev. Charles James Fisher, curate of Oulton.

The church, an ancient cathedral-shaped edifice, stands upon a rising ground, and consists of a nave, chancel, and north transept, between which is a low square tower, formerly surmounted by a spire, which time has long since destroyed. The south transept is entirely in ruins. These transepts were probably both erected by the Fastolfs, who were great benefactors to the church, and were originally chantry chapels, in which masses weresung for the souls of the founder and his family. The north transept is separated from the church, and has a north window, with a small eastern door: it is at present private property, and used as a school-room. The windows of this edifice are very irregular; some are acutely pointed, and denote the

antiquity of the building, others more obtuse, date their construction at a later period. In the south porch are many small pointed niches, and over the inner door is a very neat Saxon arch. The towerhas a curious ascent from the transept, and forms a kind of gallery in the nave. The altar-piece, which is very handsome, was purchased some years since from Lowestoft church, when the new altar was set up there. Near the south door of the chancel are three ancient stones; the first is entirely defaced, save the matrices of two shields; but the next contains the effigies of a man and woman, in brass, each about two feet in length; the knight is in armour, with a greyhound couchant, collar'd at his feet; the lady is a very graceful figure, with a long veil, and beneath is a line of brass, with this inscription

Hic Jacet Johes. Fastolff Armiger qui obiit ultio. die Januarii Ao. Dm. MCCCCXLV. et Katerina uxor sua. quæ obiit IIII. die mensis Januarii Ao. Dm. MCCCCLXXVIII. qrm. aiahs. ppiaet. de' ame.

Above are two shields; that over the knight is defaced, and doubtless contained the arms of Fastolf: on the other side, over the lady, are depicted those of Bedingfeld, an eagle displayed. Gillingwater has noticed these figures; but where he obtained the inscription, mentioned by him in page 275, I am unable to determine. He says, "On a large stone, in Oulton chancel, are the effigies of John Fastolf, Esq. and Katherine, his wife,

in brass, with their feet resting on a greyhound; at the corners, the arms of Fastolf, viz. an eagle displayed; also, this inscription

"John Fastolf Esquyer, died 1445 and Kateren his Wyef, deghter of Bedingfeld 1478."

Whether the shield over the man was defaced, at the period in which this author wrote his history, is uncertain, but the arms upon the other escutcheon are certainly not those of Fastolf, but of Bedingfeld, and as certainly denote the lady to have been one of that family. The inscription on the brass is very different from the one printed by Gillingwater, from whence I imagine the latter to have been a typographic error.

Weever says, this John Fastolf and Katherine Bedingfelde, were the parents of the renowned hero of that name; while other manuscripts, according to Anstis, make him the son of Hugh, who was son of John, by Margaret, daughter and coheir of John, son of Sir Thomas Holebroke, thus

It is certain, says Anstis, that Margery, wife of John, son of Alexander Fastolf, being sixteen years of age, was one of the heirs to John Holebroke; in which right the manors of Holebroke, Tatington, Langeston, Bentley, Foxhale, Rendlesham, Shollandhall in Naketon, and Mórehall în Playford, descended to her.

This may be true, as far as relates to Margery, but with respect to Sir John Fastolf, K. G. it is incorrect; for although the Norfolk and Suffolk branches of the Fastolfs were originally the same family, it is quite clear that Hugh Fastolf was not the father of Sir John. There is also an apparent inconsistency in Weever, as quoted by Anstis; for, in another part of his volume, he makes the knt. to have been the son of John Fastolf, Esq., a distinct personage from the Fastolf, who married Katherine Bedingfeld. The hero of Agincourt was born in 1380, and his father, who resided at Caister, died before he was of age, and was undoubtedly buried in the chapel of St. Nicholas, in the priory church at Yarmouth.*

The next stone in Oulton chancel, has a perfect full length brass of an ecclesiastical person, handsomely decorated in a gorgeous Chasuble, or mass habit; beneath which appears the Dalmatic, highly ornamented, and a Stole, with the ends embroidered and fringed; at his feet is a lion. The priest here interred, was probably a person of some consequence, perhaps one of the Fastolfs or Bedingfelds; * See Caister, page 105.