BEDINGHAM, DITCHINGHAM & THE FARMS 23 



in my day some traces of the bath remained, but they have 

 vanished now, and nothing is left but the excavation which once 

 held the water. That this water is mineral there can be no 

 doubt, for it leaves a red stain on the mud, caused, I suppose, by 

 the presence of iron. It is moreover peculiarly delicious to 

 drink ; but notwithstanding these advantages, no one has ever 

 taken the trouble to have it analysed. If this were done, possibly 

 Bungay might once more be ' startled at its approaching grandeur,' 

 and property in these parts would increase in value — a consumma- 

 tion devoutly to be wished. 



But Bungay has bygone grandeurs of its own. Its name has 

 been supposed to be derived from Bon Cue or Good Ford, but as 

 the town was called Bungay before ever a Norman set foot in 

 England, this interpretation will not hold. More probable is that 

 suggested to me by the Rev. J. Denny Gedge, that the origin of the 

 name is Bourne-gay or Boundary Ford. Or the prefix ' Bun ' may, as 

 he hazards also, have been translated from ' placenta,' a sacred cake, 

 indicating, perhaps — but this is my suggestion — that in old times 

 Bungay was the town that pre-eminently ' took the cake.' May- 

 hap, for in philology anything might chance ; but if so, alas ! it 

 takes it no longer. 



Bungay Castle, whereof the ruins are now part of an inn 

 garden, was built by one of the Bigods. Here King Stephen 

 besieged Hugh Bigod and took the castle. This Hugh was a 

 second time besieged at Bungay by Henry II., to whom, his 

 garrison of five hundred men having deserted him, he was forced 

 to surrender. Suckling prints in full the spirited old ballad that 

 tells the tale of this defeat. Here are a few verses of it : 



The King had sent for Bigod bold 



In Essex whereat he lay, 



But Lord Bigod laughed at his Poursuivant, 



And stoutly thus did say : 



Were I in my castle of Bungay, 



Upon the River of Waveney, 



I would no care for the King of Cockney. 



