lOO THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



windowing of the Perpendicular Period was introduced in the north aisle. He 

 particularly drew attention to the work in red brick executed late in the fifteenth 

 or early in the sixteenth century by the addition of another bay to each aisle, 

 clerestory and battlements to nave, and dormers, gable, and buttressing to 

 chancel. The tower is large, and bears a lofty spire. 



Of this church Alexander Barclay was an early rector (1546), well known as 

 a writer, and for his paraphrase of Brant's emblem-book " Stultifera nauis,' 

 entitled " The Shyp of Folys of the Worlde," folio, printed by Richard Pynson 

 in 1509 (first edition), an exceedingly rare and valuable work.' 



The name of an early owner here. Sir Hugh de Badew (temp. Ed. Ill,) still 

 occurs about a mile S. of Howe Green, where two houses are entitled " Great " 

 and " Little Sir Hugh's." 



The party then proceeded by Howe Green to the Hamlet of Bicknacre 

 (Parish of Woodham Ferrers), where the carriages were dismissed and some time 

 occupied in visiting all that now remains of the old Priory. Mr. Chancellor 

 pointed out that the fragment, which consists of two piers with shafts and 

 moulded arch, probably formed part of the central tower of the old Priory 

 Church, its date being of the thirteenth century. Attention was drawn to the 

 fact that but little was known of the history of Bicknacre Priory, although for 

 400 years the Priors and Canons, possessed as they were of very considerable 

 estates in Danbury, Woodham Ferrers, and elsewhere, and the largest ecclesiastical 

 building in the district, must have exercised considerable influence over our fore- 

 fathers in Chelmsford, Danbury, and surrounding parishes. The original Priory 

 was founded by King Henry II., at the instigation of Maurice Fitz-Geoffrey, 

 Sheriff of Essex from 1157 to 1164, who built and endowed this Priory for the 

 Canons of S. Augustine, and which he dedicated to the Virgin Mary and S. John 

 the Baptist. There were seventeen Priors who in succession ruled the establish- 

 ment from its foundation to the latter part of the reign of Henry VII., when 

 Edmund Coding, the last Prior, died. "At this time, through the carelessness of 

 the Priors, and other occasions being grown poor, and Edmund Coding, the last 

 Prior being dead, and but one Canon left in the House, became in a manner 

 wholly neglected, upon which the Prior and Convent of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

 without Bishopsgate procured of the said King to grant them his royal license 

 bearinc date 2i April, 1507, to have this Priory of Byknacre, with all its lands, 

 rights, and appurtenances to be united and appropriated to their hospital." By 

 an inquisition, taken after the death of the last Prior, the possessions are de- 

 scribed as the Manor of Bicknacre, with 30 messuages, 300 acres of arable, 40 of 

 meadow, 60 of wood, 500 of pasture, 62 of marsh, and ^5 yearly rent, with a 

 Court Leet and view of frank pledge in Woodham Ferrers, Danbury, Norton, 

 Steeple, Chelmsford, Mayland, Stow, East and West Hanningfield, Purleigh, 

 Burnham, and Downham. 



Upon the suppression. King Henry VIII. granted, 3 Feb., 1539, the site of the 



I At the end is this curious rhymed note : 



Our Shyp here leuyth the sees brode 

 By helpe of God ahnyght and quyetly 

 At Anker we lye within the rode 

 But who that lysteth of them to bye 

 In Flete Streete shall them fynde truly 

 At the George : in Richade Pynsones place 

 Prynter unto the Kyngs noble grace. 

 Deo gralias. 



