THE ESSEX MARSHES 139 



trees on the " Ray," wiiich sheltered Glory's cottage, 

 built of tarred wreckage timber and roofed with pantiles. 

 Beyond the " fleet " stretch the salt-marshes of Salcot 

 and Virley, where stood until recently the ruffian 

 Rebow's lonely farmhouse, built in 1636, and known 

 from its appearance as Red Hall. This district, in the 

 early days of the last century, was a centre of the 

 smuggling trade, and deeds of violence were far from 

 rare. According to one story, a whole boat's crew 

 were found on Sunken Island, off Mersea, with their 

 throats cut, from whence they were transported to the 

 churchyard and buried, and their boat turned keel 

 upwards over them. It was difficult to realise such 

 lawless deeds amid surroundings so calm and peaceful 

 as presented themselves to the writer last September. 

 Cattle and a few sheep were grazing in the " Ray " 

 marshes, and a kestrel hawk was hovering over the 

 thorn-trees. On the sea-bank the golden samphire was 

 in flower, and hard by the rare dittander ; a couple of 

 wild-duck were lazily floating down the Rhyn ; the 

 rippling waters of the estuary were dotted here and 

 there with the picturesque red sails of tiny fishing- 

 craft ; and no sound was to be heard save the rustling 

 of the wind among the tall reeds and bulrushes that 

 edged the " fleet," and the cry of the sea-birds as they 

 settled on the mud-flats left bare by the receding tide. 

 It was in Mersea Isle that many interesting plants were 

 found by our early herbalists, and most of them still 

 grow there. There are several specimens of the sea- 

 wormwood, showing its various forms, now preserved 

 in the British Museum, which were gathered by Samuel 

 Dale in Mersea Isle two hundred years ago. Adam 

 Buddie, vicar of North Fambridge, found the rare sea- 

 trefoil in " the salt-marshes by the Strood." John Ray 



