THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 105 



At the church the party was received by the rector, tlie Rev. Lewis N. Prance, 

 who gave an interesting account of the numerous fine monuments to the Smyth 

 or Smijth family contained in it. The manor was one of the fifty-five lordships 

 granted by the Conqueror to Suene, of Essex, who lived at Rayleigh Castle. It 

 passed subsequently through many owners, before it came into the possession of 

 Sir Thomas Smith, about 154S, and it still remains in that family, the present 

 owner being Sir VVni. Bowyer Smijth, Bart., and it is much to be regretted that . 

 he does not live at the hall. The church is in the park, and is dedicated to St. 

 Michael. Ii is comparatively modern, the old church having been struck with 

 lightning and burnt down in 1611. The monuments are drawn and described in 

 Mr. Chancellor's magnificent book, "Ancient Sepulchral Monuments of Essex," 

 1890. 



One curious feature still remains-in this church. From the roof of the nave 

 hang some decayed garlands of flowers, with several pairs of gloves or mittens. 

 These have been used at the burial of maidens (probably of the Smijth family), 

 and remind us pleasantly of the old customs of the past, when on the death of a 

 virgin, a chaplet or garland of white flowers and ribands was carried in and 

 placed on the coffin ; and this was afterwards hung up over the seat she had 

 been used to occupy, and appended to it were gloves or paper cut in to that form 

 Mr. Crouch had seen these some years ago in the north, in Cheshire and Derby- 

 shire, and mention is made of them in parish registers, "a garland was hung up 

 in the church," etc. Mr. Crouch also quoted the following from one of the 



Percy ballads : — 



" A garlande fresh and faire, 

 Of lilies white was made, 

 In token of virginitie, 

 And on her coffin laid. 

 " Six maidens all in white, 



They bore her to the ground ; 

 The bells did ringe in solemn sorte, 

 It was a doleful sound." 



It is right to mention, however, that some little difference of opinion obtained 

 among the ecclesiologists present, Mr. Prance inclining to the opinion that the 

 garlands appertained to bridals and not to burials, inasmuch as he found on 

 taking them down that the ribbons were of various colours, and he thought that 

 the relics would be more correctly named coronals. In support of this opinion 

 he quoted the sayings of an old man of the parish who was living when he first 

 came into the rectory, and who described their use at village weddings, the bride 

 hanging her gloves upon the garland. 



Mr. Crouch was not inclined to accept this statement as conclusive in the 

 absence of further evidence, for in an old poem called '■' Cor3'don's Doleful Knell," 



we read that : — 



" A garland shall be framed 

 By art and nature's skill, 

 Of sundry-coloured flowers, 

 In token of good will. 

 " And sundry-coloured ribands 

 On it I will bestow ; 

 But chiefly black and yellowe, 

 With her to grave shall goe." 



Mr. Chalkley Gould also read some notes on the use of garlands at funerals, 

 which will be fdund printed among the " Notes "on page 99 ante. 



I 



