THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 
2 55 
Common was next reached. This is an interesting piece of ground inter¬ 
sected by deep valleys, and largely covered with scrub oak. 
A piece of adjoining woodland known as the “ Poors Piece,” belonging 
to the Little Baddow Parish Council, was also visited. It is about io 
acres in extent, and is regularly cut for fuel, each section being cut at about 
io year intervals. Thence by field paths, Lingwood Common was reached 
Many interesting plants were met with during the six-mile ramble 
Convallaria majalis occurred in abundance on the heaths, but did not 
appear to flower freely. Geranium pyrenaicum and Corydalis claviculata 
the pretty little ” Climbing Fumitory,” were frequent, and other note¬ 
worthy finds were Coronopus didymus, Potentilla argentea, Alcliemilla 
arvensis, and the rare fern, Lastrea Thelypteris, which was abundant 
in one of the bogs. The early season was evidenced by the profusion 
of Dog Rose and Honeysuckle, both in full bloom. 
An interesting lichen, Lecidea quernea, in good fruit, was growing on 
an oak-trunk at Riffham’s' Park, and was secured for the Club’s herbarium. 
From Lingwood Common the party traversed woodlands and field 
paths to Little Baddow Church, which dates mainly from the 14th century, 
although portions of the walls are much older. Roman bricks have been 
used in quoins and arches. Here are two more wooden effigies of a man 
and a woman, in civilian dress, of late 14th century date, possibly two 
members of the Filiol family, who were once Lords of the Manor. There 
is a fine Jacobean tomb to Sir Henry Mildmay, of ” Great Graces.” 
The Old Congregational Meeting House erected in 1707 by the Barring¬ 
ton family was then inspected ; this is probably the oldest Nonconformist 
place of worship in the county, and is an excellent example of the work¬ 
manship of the period. A recent discovery of some antiquarian interest 
was pointed out, the name 
St. Bruce, 
1740 . 
having been found scratched on the door, under the paint-work, during 
redecoration. 
Little Baddow is memorable for its association with John Eliot, “ the 
apostle of the Indians ” (1604-1690), a native of Essex, who staj^ed here 
for a time with the celebrated Thomas Hooker. In 1631 he sailed in the 
” Lyon” for America, and settled as minister at Roxbury, Mass., where he 
remained until his death. Eliot regarded the Indians of New England 
as the descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, and he undertook the 
translation of the entire Bible into the tribal dialect of the Natick Indians, 
a herculean task which he completed by 1663, and the volume was 
printed at Cambridge, Mass., in that year. He also published an Indian 
grammar. John Eliot’s Indian Bible was the first ever printed in America ; 
the Natick dialect has since become extinct. 1 
The party then proceeded to “ The Hoppet,” and was most hospitably 
received by Mrs. Briscoe and her daughter. Tea was taken on the lawn 
in the welcome shade of some lofty trees. 
After tea a short Meeting (the 517th) of the Club was held, with the 
President in the chair, when the following ladies were elected members 
Mrs. Kate Paulson, of ” Glenvoy,” Cecil Park, Pinner, Middlesex. 
1. For further biographical details of John Eliot, see Journ . of Proc . Essex Field Club , iv., 
1885, p. xxxvi. 
