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religious house founded many years before the days of 

 Robinhood, by the sister of Raef Baynard, who held the 

 manor in the time of Domesday survey. Far and near 

 extended a wild forest with its glens and dingles, but farm- 

 houses are standing now where the wolf used to range, 

 and a public road passes within sight of the ancient 

 building, from which it is divided by a corn-field, and 

 burying-ground, with head-stones worn and lichen-dotted, 

 and crumbling from long exposure to the weather. How 

 still and solemn is this place ! Here knees have bent in 

 prayer for successive generations, and here successive 

 generations have been laid to rest ; the poor beside the 

 church a few of noble birth within the walls. Sir 

 Walter Bohun is one of these. His plate armour and 

 leathern shirt indicate that his days were passed in warlike 

 deeds, and beside him rests his lady, dame Matilda, who 

 wears the insignia of her courtly rank ; her tiara and lace, her 

 earrings and her necklace. Their heads repose on cushions, 

 and their hands are raised in the attitude of prayer. The 

 effigies of both have suffered ; the legs of Sir Walter are 

 broken at the knees, and the delicate fret-work of the 

 lace which adorns his lady has been rudely handled. 

 Other steps than those which used to tread softly, as 

 befits a house of prayer, were heard here when this 

 deed was done. Men, with peaked beards and round 

 hats, halted beneath the Oak of Dunmow, and they 

 thought they did good service to their Maker when they 

 despoiled the old effigies; they, too, have passed from 



