Books published by Suffolk Records Society

Surveys of the two manors of Walsham-le-Willows, 1577, embracing agriculture, patterns of tenure, domestic and farm buildings and the social structure of the community.

The letter-book of William of Hoo is a hybrid between a formulary and letter-book with over 200 entries. It begins with fifty six entries which are pure forms, with initials instead of names or places and no dates, and ends with more or less complete copies of letters with full names and dates. William of Hoo was the sacrist of Bury St Edmunds from 1280-1294. As such he owned many manors and was virtually lord of the borough of Bury St Edmunds, he not onlydrew the rents, tolls and other profits of the borough but also presided over the borough court, held the view of frankpledge, was in charge of the song school and grammar school, and of the mint, and was responsible for enforcing of the assizes of weights and measures, and bread and ale. As the Abbot's deputy he also performed the functions of archdeacon. The letter-book illustrates his varied activities with entries concerning the probate of wills, matrimony and the enforcement of morality in the borough.

The life and work of a provincial merchant, his organisation of his business affairs, and his role in civic life.

Records of Tooley benefaction and municipal poorhouse, together with assessments and payment of relief, c.1550-1600.

In the 1640s Parliament intervened against clergymen with Royalist sympathies, and in the political jargon of the time they were referred to as 'Scandalous Ministers'. As the Civil War developed two Suffolk committees were empowered to hear evidence against any minister (or schoolmaster) who was 'scandalous' in either life or doctrine, or in any way 'malignant' (ill-affected to Parliament). This volume shows how the national split was mirrored in a Suffolkvillage with questions of allegiance being posed at parish level. The records in this book are, for the most part, the charges bought by Suffolk parishioners, and provide an account of popular religious beliefs. Perhaps most valuable are the splendid cameos of rural life; of the constables of Blyford undertaking a midnight raid on an unlicenced alehouse to impress soldiers; of the Christmas celebrations at Little Cornard; of Nicholas Stoneham watching a Sunday football match at Eyke.