THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. I35 



To the Tench much the same remarks apply, but there is a better chance 

 of catching Tench than Carp, as the former are not equally cunning. 



Barbel. This fish grows to a large size in the Lea. I have seen great 

 numbers of them below Kings Weir and at Sewardstone some years ago, but 

 they are seldom taken by anglers. Bayley, the proprietor of the waters at 

 the latter place, told me that the celebrated Bayley of Nottingham came to 

 see what he could do there, but he had no success with the Barbel. 



The Gudgeon was a great favourite with London anglers. It is a bold fish, 

 and greatly esteemed for the table. At one time they were very numerous in 

 some parts of the Lea. Bets have been made to take sixty gudgeon in an 

 hour, a feat often accomplished. 



The Bleak (called by Walton " the fresh-water sprat ") is abundant in the 

 Lea. Like Roach and Dace they are gregarious, swimming in shoals, and 

 taking flies on the surface. 



The Loach, Stickleback a.nd Minnow are met with in great quantities. 



The Bream and the Rujf (or Pope) are not uncommon in the Lea. 



The Eel occurs in good numbers, and of splendid quality for the table. 



Stone Loach very plentiful, and Bullhead not uncommon. 



The Grayling. Attempts have been made to introduce this fish into the 

 Lea. I have read that in the summer of 1864 as many as 1,500 Grayling were 

 turned into the river at Brayfordbury Park, but the fish has not been much 

 reported since as having been hooked by any of the Lea Anglers." 



A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Davies, l>oth for his paper 

 and for the information imparted during the excursion. 



We now pass the smiling village of Stanstead, with the banks decorated 

 by pollard willows, the neighbouring gardens being very Dutch-like and 

 quaint. Before reaching Rye House, the appointed mid-day resting place, 

 one member, Mr. Benjamin Winstone, who is on board, afforded the party an 

 opportunity of acquiring some information on the history and construction of 

 that historic building. Mr. Cole read for him some extracts from a paper 

 prepared for a visit ot the Leland Society some years ago, but which was not 

 read on that occasion for want of time. The paper was entitled : — 



RYE HOUSE, 1685. 

 By BENJAMIN WINSTONE, M.D., F.C.S., &c. 



" Rye House is well known as a place of entertainment for school 

 children and others, who resort to it for recreation in large numbers during 

 the summer. It has, in addition to its pleasure grounds, a fine Tudor Gate- 

 house, the remains of the ancient Manor House ; and it possesses moreover 

 an historical interest from its association with the well-known plot, to which 

 it gave the name ; a conspiracy having for its object the assassination of 

 Charles the Second and his brother the Duke of York on their return from 

 Newmarket ; as the commencement of a general rebellion throughout the 

 kingdom." 



After some general observations on the historical authenticity of the 

 conspiracy, and quoting opinions from various authors, Mr. Winstone 

 proceeds : — 



"The plot to revolutionize the kingdom, which was to have had its 

 commencement in the assassination of the king and his brother entirely failed. 



