BEDINGHAM, DITCHINGHAM & THE FARMS 21 



which I have been so fortunate as to secure a perfect copy, that 

 Mr. King was then the owner of the Vineyard Hills, and of some 

 of the further slopes now belonging to Captain Meade, of Earsham. 

 Here, a hundred yards or so beyond the boundary of this property, 

 he discovered a mineral spring, 'which,' he says, 'at length I 

 found in my own Land, at the foot of a large and deep Hill, 

 whose oblique Height is not common ; it's most curiously adorn'd 

 with many Sorts of Trees standing in so handsome a Manner, as 

 form of themselves a beautiful Landskip, the opposite side is a 

 fine delightful Stream, encompassing a large spacious Common, 

 whose Prospect is little inferior to any.' It will be observed that 

 here there is no mention of a vineyard, but in the illustration of 

 Bungay Common and the Bath House as they appeared in 1738, 

 which is here reproduced from the frontispiece of Mr. King's book, 

 (please observe the double gallows and the fine coach), can be seen 

 vines planted on the hillside slope. Also in an Appendix a letter- 

 is quoted written (apparently) to Mr. King by ' a certain Gentleman 

 of superior abilities,' who does not sign his name. This gentleman 

 in turn quotes from a ' letter to a young lady by a Gentleman at your 

 Bath, whither, amongst many arguments to invite her thither, he 

 describes the Beauties of the Place in the following Manner : 



'"Those Lovely Hills which incircle the flowery Plain are 

 variegated with all that can ravish the astonish'd Sight; they 

 arise from the winding Mazes of the River Waveney, enriched 

 with the utmost variety the watry Element is capable of producing. 

 Upon the Neck of this Peninsula the Castle and Town of 

 Bungay (now startled at its approaching Grandeur) is situated on 

 a pleasing Ascent to view the Pride of Nature on the other Side, 

 which the Goddesses have chose for their earthly Paradise, where 

 the Sun at its first Appearance makes a kindly Visit to a steep 

 and fertile Vineyard, richly stored with the choicest Plants from 

 Burgundy, Champaigne, Provence and whatever the East can 

 furnish us with. 



' " Near the Bottom of this is placed the Grotto or Bath itself, 

 beautified on one side with Oziers, Groves and Meadows, on the 



