Earl Alfric, son of Widgar, presented Melford to St. Edmunds as stated in the Register S.P. fol. 32 in these words : ' In the time of St. Edmund King and Confessor, and of Leofstam the Abbot, Alfric the son of Witgar the famous Earl gave Melford to St. Edmund and gave a manor to this church and to St. Edmund, and to Leofstan the Abbot : and he conveyed to them the induction of this church in perpetuity and bound his son Withgar to the same, so that their charter then came into the hands of the monks.' ' This Alfric the Thane was an important character in the time of the Confessor. He was the kinsman of Alfar and of Leofgion, a noble lady, as appears by her Testament written in Anglo-Saxon. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Baptist at Clare, afterwards removed to Stoke by Clare, was founded by him with the consent of his son Withgar. The Honor of Clare was composed chiefly of the great possessions of this Thane in Suffolk and Essex.