Dame Alice de Bryene was probably Sir Robert's great granddaughter. She married Sir Guy de Bryene from Gloucester, the oldest son of the Admiral of the Fleet before Calais. He died young in 1386 leaving her with two daughters, Elizabeth and Philippa, and so she returned to Acton Hall to be near her kinsfolk. 

Dame Alice belonged to a very rich and privileged section of society, and she was probably frequently present in the royal court of London, but it would be wrong to assume that it was 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 in Acton Church is of interest but perhaps what is more interesting is a 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 Record Office. 

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. For example, on Sunday 2nd July 1413 at Acton Hall : 

" Breakfast 6, Dinner 20, Supper 20, - Sum 46 

The Baking :  206 white and 30 black loaves 
Pantry      : 56 white and 6 black loaves; wine from supply; ale from stock 
Kitchen     : One quarter of beef, one quarter of bacon, one joint of mutton, 2 chicken. Purchases   : Beef and Pork 
Provender   : Hay from stock for 7 horses, fodder for same, one bush. oats. 

Sum of purchases 

3s. 2d "

[These details are translated from the Latin] 

Comparatively little is known of Dame Alice herself but from what few records do exist a shadowy figure emerges. Her gifts to the poor were quite large. The accounts suggest a careful methodical lady. Some of the letters she received from her friends and relatives she left neatly in a Letter Book. The letters reveal that she was held in genuine affection by a number of her correspondents. 

Robert Love, one of her sons-in-law, writes thus .- 

"My most honoured and above all other my most dearly beloved lady and mother, may the Blessed Trinity keep you in its most sacred care and bring you a good life of very great length, with full accomplishment of your worthy desires."

Unfortunately, no letters have yet been discovered written by Dame Alice but it is thought that she lived to be over seventy and it is pleasant to think this devout and kindly woman probably lived to fulfil the kind wishes of her son-in-law.