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neither more nor less than Randolph Peperking's Hartfield … that is
to say； Ralph Peverell's deer…park。
N。B。 … This Ralph Randolph； or Ralph Peverell （call him as you
please）； had； it seems； a most beautiful lady to his wife； who was
daughter of Ingelrick； one of Edward the Confessor's noblemen。 He
had two sons by her … William Peverell； a famed soldier； and lord
or governor of Dover Castle； which he surrendered to William the
Conqueror； after the battle in Sussex； and Pain Peverell； his
youngest； who was lord of Cambridge。 When the eldest son delivered
up the castle； the lady； his mother； above named； who was the
celebrated beauty of the age； was it seems there； and the Conqueror
fell in love with her； and whether by force or by consent； took her
away； and she became his mistress； or what else you please to call
it。 By her he had a son； who was called William； after the
Conqueror's Christian name； but retained the name of Peverell； and
was afterwards created by the Conqueror lord of Nottingham。
This lady afterwards； as is supposed； by way of penance for her
yielding to the Conqueror； founded a nunnery at the village of
Hatfield Peverell； mentioned above； and there she lies buried in
the chapel of it； which is now the parish church； where her memory
is preserved by a tombstone under one of the windows。
Thus we have several towns； where any ancient parks have been
placed； called by the name of Hatfield on that very account。 As
Hatfield Broad Oak in this county； Bishop's Hatfield in
Hertfordshire； and several others。
But I return to King Edward's merry way； as I call it； of granting
this forest to this Ralph Peperking； which I find in the ancient
records； in the very words it was passed in； as follows。 Take my
explanations with it for the sake of those that are not used to the
ancient English：
The Grant in Old English。
IChe EDWARD Koning；
Have given of my Forrest the kepen of the Hundred of CHELMER and
DANCING。
To RANDOLPH PEPERKING；
And to his kindling。
With Heorte and Hind； Doe and Bocke；
Hare and Fox； Cat and Brock；
Wild Fowle with his Flock；
Patrich； Pheasant Hen； and Pheasant Cock；
With green and wild Stub and Stock；
To kepen and to yemen with all her might。
Both by Day； and eke by Night；
And Hounds for to hold；
Good and Swift and Bold：
Four Greyhound and six Raches；
For Hare and Fox； and Wild Cattes；
And therefore Iche made him my Book。
Witness the Bishop of WOLSTON。
And Booke ylrede many on；
And SWEYNE of ESSEX； our Brother；
And taken him many other
And our steward HOWLEIN；
That BY SOUGHT me for him。
The Explanation in Modern English
I Edward the king；
Have made ranger of my forest of Chelmsford hundred and Deering
hundred；
Ralph Peverell； for him and his heirs for ever；
With both the red and fallow deer。
Hare and fox； otter and badger；
Wild fowl of all sorts；
Partridges and pheasants；
Timber and underwood roots and tops；
With power to preserve the forest；
And watch it against deer…stealers and others：
With a right to keep hounds of all sorts；
Four greyhounds and six terriers；
Harriers and foxhounds； and other hounds。
And to this end I have registered this my grant in the crown rolls
or books；
To which the bishop has set his hand as a witness for any one to
read。
Also signed by the king's brother （or； as some think； the
Chancellor Sweyn； then Earl or Count of Essex）。
He might call such other witnesses to sign as he thought fit。
Also the king's high steward was a witness； at whose request this
grant was obtained of the king。
There are many gentlemen's seats on this side the country； and a
great assembly set up at New Hall； near this town； much resorted to
by the neighbouring gentry。 I shall next proceed to the county of
Suffolk； as my first design directed me to do。
From Harwich； therefore； having a mind to view the harbour； I sent
my horses round by Manningtree； where there is a timber bridge over
the Stour； called Cataway Bridge； and took a boat up the River
Orwell for Ipswich。 A traveller will hardly understand me；
especially a seaman； when I speak of the River Stour and the River
Orwell at Harwich； for they know them by no other names than those
of Manningtree water and Ipswich water； so while I am on salt
water； I must speak as those who use the sea may understand me； and
when I am up in the country among the inland towns again； I shall
call them out of their names no more。
It is twelve miles from Harwich up the water to Ipswich。 Before I
come to the town； I must say something of it； because speaking of
the river requires it。 In former times； that is to say； since the
writer of this remembers the place very well； and particularly just
before the late Dutch wars； Ipswich was a town of very good
business； particularly it was the greatest town in England for
large colliers or coal…ships employed between Newcastle and London。
Also they built the biggest ships and the best； for the said
fetching of coals of any that were employed in that trade。 They
built； also； there so prodigious strong； that it was an ordinary
thing for an Ipswich collier； if no disaster happened to him； to
reign （as seamen call it） forty or fifty years； and more。
In the town of Ipswich the masters of these ships generally dwelt；
and there were； as they then told me； above a hundred sail of them；
belonging to the town at one time； the least of which carried
fifteen score； as they compute it； that is； 300 chaldron of coals；
this was about the year 1668 （when I first knew the place）。 This
made the town be at that time so populous； for those masters； as
they had good ships at sea； so they had large families who lived
plentifully； and in very good houses in the town； and several
streets were chiefly inhabited by such。
The loss or decay of this trade accounts for the present pretended
decay of the town of Ipswich； of which I shall speak more
presently。 The ships wore out； the masters died off； the trade
took a new turn； Dutch flyboats taken in the war； and made free
ships by Act of Parliament； thrust themselves into the coal…trade
for the interest of the captors； such as the Yarmouth and London
merchants； and others； and the Ipswich men dropped gradually out of
it； being discouraged by those Dutch flyboats。 These Dutch
vessels； which cost nothing but the caption； were bought cheap；
carried great burthens； and the Ipswich building fell off for want
of price； and so the trade decayed； and the town with it。 I
believe this will be owned for the true beginning of their decay；
if I must allow it to be called a decay。
But to return to my passage up the river。 In the winter…time those
great collier ships； above…mentioned； are always laid up； as they
call it； that is to say； the coal trade abates at London； the
citizens are generally furnished； their stores taken in； and the
demand is over； so that th