44
JOHN NORDEN'S MAP OF ESSEX.
" The second quarter of the shire maybe saide to contayne the hundreds of
Lexden, Hinckforde, Dunmow, and Froswell, which lye in the northe parte of
the Shire. And theis abounde greatelie with hopps, a com'oditie of greate and
continuall use, but draweth with it an inconuenience : the distraction of younge
springes. In theis hundreds also are manie good feedinges, and come in reason-
able measure.
" Therdlie, the hundreds of Vttlesforde, Chelmerforde, Claueringe, and those
partes are reasonable apt for corne, and especiallie Vttlesforde hundred : the reste
are here and there much enterlaced with woodes and rugged groundes. * * *
" Fowithlie, about the hundredes of Waltham, Onger, Becontre, and muche of
the libertie of Hauering, are the moste parte woodes and wooddie groundes, and
foreste, as the moste parte of Essex in time paste hath bene This forest is well
replenished with deere red and fallow, whoe seeme noe good neighbors to the
foreste inhabitantes : but the kindnes which they receyue of the forest, may worke
their patience towardes the game. Ther is also nere Hatfeylde broadokes a chace
called Hatfeyld chace, a grounde well replenished with fallow deare. "This
shire seemeth not anie wher altogether destitute of wood, thowgh no wher
well stored. It is full of parkes. Barsrable hundred yeldeth greate store of
ottes, so doth Rocheforde and Denge, whence her Matie hath greate store of
provision of auenage. Ther are noe great flockes of Sheepe in this shire. Yet
are ther sundrie places, that yealde verie fine woull; but not in the depe countries :
the moste barren and healthye groundes yelde beste woull, and especiallie Kinges-
wood heath, Lexden heath, Misley heath, about Ardeley, Alresforde, Thurrington,
Empsted, and Typtree heath. * * *
" As touching the comodeties of the sea, they are manie ; among the reste it
yeldeth store of excellent good fishe, and giueth passage for all kind of trafique,
to the greate benifite of the country. * * * Some part of the sea shore of
Essex yealdeth the beste oysters in England, which are called Walflete oysters :
so called of a place in the sea; but in what place of the sea it is, hath ben some
disputation. And by the circomstances that I have observed thereof in my trauaile,
I take it to be the shore which lieth betwene St. Peter's chappell and Crowche
creeke : the bredthe onlie of Dengie hundred, throwgh whiche, vpon the verie shore,
was erected a wall for the preseruation of the lande. And therof St. Peter's on
the wall.1 And all the sea shore which beateth on that wall is called the Walfleet.
And vpon that shore onlie, and not els wher, but up in Crouche creeke, at the ende
of the wall, wher also is an ilande called commonlie and corruptlie Wallet (but I
take it more trulie Walflete) Ilande, wher and about which ilande thys kinde of
oyster aboundeth. Ther is greate difference betwene theis oysters and others
which lie vpon other shores, for this oyster, that in London and ells wher carieth
the name of Walflete, is a little full oyster with a verie greene fynn. And like
vnto theis in quantetie and qualitie are none in this lande thowgh farr bigger, and
for some mens diettes better."
In the "Alphabeticall Table," Norden often gives some quaint
scraps of information in connection with the places mentioned; thus
of "Cogshull or Cogshale" he says :—"Ther are to be seene 2 teeth
of a monstrous man or gyant of so great magnitude and weight as 100
of anie men's teeth in this age can not counteruayle one of them."
Of "Hornechurche, the misterye I knowe not; but at the east front
of ye churche are fixed duo cornua magna et horenda." Of "Onger,
called Chipping Onger, Jeames Morrys, Esq., hath ther erected a
very proper howse of pleasure vpon the topp of a mount, wher was
1 In the "Alphabeticall Table," Norden says of this place that some suppose "Ithancester" to
have stood there. "It appeareth to haue bene a town now greatly deuowred wth the sea ; and
buyldings yet appeare in the sea."