Journal of Proceedings. liii 



highest points in Essex, and from it a magnificent view was obtained in 

 all directions over the surrounding country. Several of the gentlemen of 

 the party ascended the tower, the scene from which amply repaid the 

 awkwardness of a part of the climb — that through the belfry, to wit, 

 which might well dismay unpractised climbers. The air was not too 

 clear, and the mist hid some of the more distant points, only lifting a 

 little to allow of a perplexing uncertain glimpse, and then closing and 

 blotting all out. But though bright sunshine would doubtless have made 

 the prospect much grander, it was yet a very fine one. In the distance 

 was the town of Maldon, and southwards lines of light showed the course 

 of the river Crouch and the mouth of the Thames, and those visitors 

 whose acquaintance with Essex and its many scenic beauties was limited, 

 were charmed with the outlook and were even ready to admit how little 

 the county deserves the commonly bestowed stigma of tameness. 



In the building itself Mr. Chancellor's descriptive powers and archi- 

 tectural lore were again called into requisition to amuse and instruct the 

 visitors. Danbury Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, contains, 

 as was pointed out to the visitors, memorials of the days of the Crusaders 

 not to be exceeded, it is said, by any others of the kind in the kingdom, 

 not even by those in the Temple Church. The carved benches and stalls 

 in the chancel, and the beautiful stone altar screen, are the work of the 

 modern artificer on the occasion of the restoration of the Church some 

 years ago ; but the piscina and part of the sedilia speak of ancient days, 

 and portions of the building are of very old date. The building has been 

 twice injured by lightning, once in 1402, concerning which Hollingshed 

 states in his ' Devil of Danbury ' — " Vpon Corpus Cliristi day, in the 

 yeare 1402, the third of Henry the Fourth, at evensong time, the Devill 

 entred into this Church, in the likeness of a Gray frier, and raged 

 horribly, playing his parts like a Devill indeed, to the great astonishement 

 and fear of the parishioners ; and the same houre with a tempest of 

 whirlewind and thunder, the top of the steeple was broken downe, and 

 halfe of the chancel scattered abroad." And again, on 5th February, 

 1749-50, lightning struck fire to the spire and about 20 feet of it was 

 burnt. Under low arches in the walls of the aisles are three recumbent 

 figures of cross-legged knights carved in wood, which are undoubtedly 

 effigies of three crusaders of the St. Clere family, the former lords of the 

 parish. The feet of each figure are supported by a lion, and every lion 

 and every man is in a different position — a fact which is considered by 

 certain learned antiquarians to be emblematic of the manner of their 

 deaths. The crossed legs of the effigies go to show that the warriors 

 whom they represent were crusaders of the days of Eichard or Edward I. 

 The body of one of these crusaders was discovered about 100 years ago 

 by some workmen who were digging a grave. It was encased in a leaden 

 shell with two outer coftins, and was found to be in a good state of preser- 

 vation, this being due to the influence of a liquor in which it was lying. 



Leaving the Church, an inspection was made of the ancient camp, 



