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for in this church, was formerly an Orate for William Bedingfeld, rector, who died in 1503, On the north wall, near the altar, is a black marble tablet to Elizabeth Van Heythuson, the daughter of Gerard Van Heythuson, departed this life, 20th May, 1735, aged 17 years; also, Sarah, his wife, who died 20th January, 1740. Several pieces of stained glass were formerly in the windows: in one of them were the arms of Bacon, and in another, the decapitated figure of a person in robes.* In the nave, is a handsome mural monument to Thomas Hunt, Esq. who possessed estates in this parish. The tower contains five bells; and in the belfry is a curious antique chair of three seats, for the ringers. The church-yard has many monuments: its elevated situation overlooks a beautiful and extensive traet of green marshes, bounded on the west by some dark trees; to the north, is an eminence, covered with verdure, and on the east, appears Lowestoft spire, with many other interesting objects.

Oulton is an exceedingly pleasant village. Its rich and luxuriant corn fields every where present themselves to the eye; the air is wholesome and soft, and the soil moist but productive. The inequalities of the surface, near Lake Lothing, with its bold and picturesque shores, will be found to furnish some pleasing subjects for the pencil of

The removal of the head from this figure, may be safely attributed to the intemperate zeal of the officers appointed to inspect the churches during the civil wars, to whose forbearance the pious monuments of our forefathers, at this time remaining, are certainly but little indebted for their preservation.

the artist, and are not the least interesting objects to the passing traveller.

The Lake is divided into two parts by Mutford bridge, which are distinguished by the appellations of the Lowestoft and Oulton sides. Upon the bosom of this beautiful water, boats are constantly seen, and water frolics, for the amusement of gentlemen and others, who resort here with their gay and gilded pleasure barges, are annually held. The Oulton frolic, which is the principal, takes place in July, and is succeeded by Lowestoft, in August: both are aided by bands of music, and exhibit the usual fetes of rowing, sailing, and other attractions, and are generally well and numerously attended. Parties for fishing may be formed during the whole of the summer, and boats procured for the occasion at Mutford bridge, for a very tifling gratuity; added to which, as an inducement, the Lake abounds with all the common species of the finny tribe.

Normanston, a small hamlet to Lowestoft, adjoins this village, in which, embosomed in trees, is an excellent mansion, late of the Rev. Michael Maurice, now of J. B. Plowman, Esq. Nothing can be more agreeable than the situation of this house, with its fine lawn in front, sweeping down to the undulating waters of Lake Lothing, over which, and the adjacent highlands, it commands a varied and interesting prospect. Mr. Plowman's library is valuable and select, and contains many rare specimens of the typographic art.

From Oulton, a beautiful walk of rather more than a mile, through a fine country, brings us to the sea coast, where, upon a lofty ridge of cliff, at the south-east corner of Lothingland, is

Lowestoft, a large handsome and populous market town, properly the capital place of trade in the hundred. Lestoffe, Laystoft, Laisto, or, as it was anciently termed, Lothnwistoft, has been conjectured to have received its name from Lothbroch, the noble and unfortunate Dane. Gillingwater, however, doubts this, and thinks these several appellations are not of earlier origin than the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In support of his opinion, he instances a charter of Edward III., in which it is written Loystoft, and Lowystofte, from whence the modern name of Lowestoft is

certainly derived. The true etymology of the word may be difficult to determine, but it was most likely taken from the Saxon of Toft, a fair or market, formerly held beneath the cliff, and thence named Low Toft, or, as we now write it, Lowestoft. This town probably derived its origin from the fishermen and mariners who resided here, to whom it formed a convenient settlement, as early perhaps as the Roman era, in Britain. The point of land, upon which the ancient town was situated, or more properly where the fairs were then held, unquestionably projected further eastward than at present, as may satisfactorily be demonstrated by the fact of Newton Village having existed near Corton, and the haven of Yarmouth

passing in a navigable stream between the present cliff and the ocean; but, as the sea receded from the northern and southern boundaries of the neighbouring coast, it gained, in an equal proportion, upon the centre or intermediate parts, which it continued to do during many ages: for no longer ago than the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII., a block-house, which had been erected for the defence of the town, was then standing to the eastward of it, about four furlongs distant from the present beach; from which it appears, that that part of the ocean, now termed Lowestoft Roads, was then dry, and formed a habitable town, defended by a fortress, until it was severed from the main land, in the 25th of Henry VIII. by the powerful effects of the sea. At intervals, the ocean progressively advanced; for in the 30th year of Queen Elizabeth, a great alteration had been effected in the appearance of the sands and shores, near Lowestoft, and the Roads before the town had at this time not less than three fathoms water upon them. At subsequent periods, the sea still continued to advance; but latterly, this capricious and destructive element appears to have desisted from any further encroachment here, and has been known to recede for a considerable time past. Thus it appears, that whenever the ocean gains at Lowestoft, it recedes from the adjacent land north of it; and, on the contrary, as it leaves the northern shores, it advances upon those of Lowestoft.

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Destitute of express records, the greater part of them having been destroyed by the fire of 1606, it is only by selecting particular circumstances, and comparing them with the scanty facts still preserved, that an idea of the ancient history of this place can be obtained. The Lowestoft historian is of opinion that this town is more ancient than Yarmouth, and says he is able to trace its origin previously to the fourth century, before which time it was the principal place of resort for fishermen and others employed on the coast. Our author's authorities for this assertion are probably correct, for anterior to the year 495, the ground, whereon Yarmouth now stands, was certainly a sand in the sea; and as the cliffs at Lowestoft were formed prior to that period, it is therefore not unreasonable to suppose, that the fishermen, finding it a convenient station, fixed their residence there.

This town was anciently part of the King's ancient demesne, and upon that account enjoyed many privileges, which through the changes effected by time, in manners and in property, have become entirely obsolete, and little more than their names remain.

As part of the crown demesne, it was very early freed from the payment of toll, stallage, pontage, pannage, and other levies, together with an exemption from contributing to the expences of the knights of the shire, during their

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