POLITICAL HISTORY 



Under William I the geographical separation of Suffolk was recognized 

 in Domesday, but politically the twin shires were regarded as one. William's 1 

 policy was to give one shire to one earl under his two viceroys, and to Ralph 

 Wader, an Anglo-Breton, who had fought tor the Normans, was given the 

 earldom of East Anglia, whose centre was Norwich Castle, to which lands in 

 Suffolk owed castle-ward. The other castle of importance in East Anglia, the 

 only one mentioned in the Suffolk Domesday Book, was Eye, built by Robert 

 Malet, but there can be little doubt that strongholds existed in such places as 

 Clare, Framlingham, Haughley, Ipswich, Walton and Burgh. It is impossible 

 to determine the part played by Suffolk in the resistance to the Normans, 

 though no doubt the fens saw tragedies which find no record in the scant annals. 

 It is very probable that so long as local customs went on fairly undisturbed 

 the county took small heed of changes in the kingship, to which it had in 

 the last fifty years become inured. Suffolk men fully appreciated the danger 

 from the Danes, and Roger Bigod's new possessions made him responsible for 

 the defence of the southern coast, the usual entrance of the invaders. He, with 

 Robert Malet and Ralph Wader, met Sweyn 2 when he sailed up the Orwell 

 in 1069 and defeated him near Ipswich. A few years later Suffolk was called 

 to arms again under Robert Malet to resist its own earl. The king's frequent 

 absence in Normandy and Ralph Wader's steady advance in power were the 

 forerunners of the earl's rebellion. Ralph married Emma, daughter of the 

 Earl of Hereford, and at the Bride-ale at 3 Exning hatched the conspiracy and 

 rebellion which was to divide England into independent earldoms. The earl 

 was defeated and outlawed, and his fall made way for the rise of a more 

 formidable family, the Bigods, one of whom already possessed 117 manors in 

 the county. Roughly speaking he, with Robert Malet, who possessed 221 

 manors, the Liberty of St. Edmund and that of St. Etheldreda, wielded the 

 whole county influence. 



The turbulent reigns of William II and Henry I saw the gradual 

 growth of the power of the Bigods, whose influence became almost paramount 

 after the expedition of Robert of Normandy in 1101 to claim his brother's 

 throne. On the suppression of the rebellion Robert Malet suffered 

 the confiscation of his vast properties, and in consequence the castle and 

 honour of Eye fell into the royal hands. Roger Bigod was staunch for 

 Henry and received the castle of Framlingham as his reward. He was in 

 high favour. His eldest son * was drowned in the White Ship with Prince 

 Henry in 1 120, and Hugh Bigod, the younger son, succeeded to his father's 

 place. Earl Hugh was one of those who swore fealty to Matilda in 1126 

 and 1 1 3 1 and lightly broke both oaths. 5 Suffolk laymen were for Stephen, and 

 Bigod was for himself, though Stephen made him earl of East Anglia in 1 141. 

 The king's treatment of the bishops had alienated the Church, and the 

 Liberties were probably against the king. 6 Bungay, the Bigod stronghold, 

 was taken and the earl himself, playing too openly for his own hand, was 

 surprised and defeated by Stephen. In 1 153, when Henry of Anjou invaded 

 England, Ipswich under Bigod declared for him, was besieged and had to 



1 Freeman, Norman Conquest, iv, 70. ' Ibid, iv, 251-2. 



5 Florence of Wore. Chion. (Engl. Hist. Soc), ii, 10 ; Freeman, op. cit. iv, 573. 



4 Florence of Wore. Chron. (Engl. Hist. Soc ), ii, 74. 



i Ibid. 84. 6 De Gestis Regis Stepiani (Rolls Ser.), 46 et seq. 



165 



