Dame Alice de Bryene

Alice de Bryene was Sir Robert's great granddaughter.

She belonged to a very rich and privileged section of society, and was probably frequently present in the Royal Court of London, but it was not a life of peace and order. The year of her birth, 1361, saw the second outbreak of the Plague, or Black Death, in England. In 1381 the Peasant's Revolt was crushed by the military power of the King at North Walsham.

The brass of Dame Alice is of interest and perhaps what is more interesting is her Day Book (or Household Account Book) of the expenses of Dame Alice's household during the year ending 28th September 1413. This is now amongst the Chancery Miscellanea at the Public Records Office in Ipswich.

The accounts show the whole management of the household of a great Suffolk lady in the time of Agincourt. It gives details of the numbers fed at her table and what they ate, down to the last pigeon or herring.