THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 145
chronicler to have given this parish its name; and to the tradition that the ring
taken from his hand nearly a century later is the one now used at the coronation of
our Sovereings.1
On his death, King Harold held the Liberty for the disturbed nine months
of his reign, and his name still remains at Harold Wood. Then, by right of con-
quest, it became the demesne of "William the Norman, who divided a portion of
the land into manors, which he bestowed on his followers.
The granting of the Charter by Edward IV., in 1465, was but a consolidation
of pre-existing privileges, and this was confirmed and enlarged by subsequent
Sovereigns, especially by Elizabeth, who constituted the tenants and inhabitants
one body corporate and politic, and granted them a Common Seal. Among the
advantages thus secured may be mentioned the election of a High Steward and
holding of separate Courts, freedom from the right of pre-emption—or forced
purveyance of provisions, and prices for them, for the King's use—and freedom
from tolls, etc.
Not a vestige remains of the Royal Palace, but it was close by the Church, and,
by the kindness of Mrs. Macintosh, we are enabled to visit the site of it, and to
see the very beautiful and undulating Park with its extensive views.
Edward III. retired here after the Christmas feast at Westminster, 1376, when
he formerly invested the young prince, afterwards Richard II., with the succession
to the crown. From Havering Richard II. rode to Plesby to entrap his uncle,
the Duke of Gloucester, to his death.
The young Prince Edward VI. and his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, were
brought up at the palace, and the last monarch who slept beneath its roof was
Charles I., who visited here in 1641, when Mary de Medici came over to this
country.
A few years after, in 1650, a survey was held, and this palace is therein
described as "a confused heap of old ruinous decayed buildings, and valued at
£480."
On 23rd September, 1828, this royal manor of 1,530 acres, with all its crown
rights and prerogatives, including the power of appointing magistrates in the
liberty was knocked down at auction to Hugh Mcintosh, Esq., in whose family it
still remains.
Under the guidance of the Vicar, a visit was made to the church, which was
built in 1878, on the site of the old edifice, with its wooden spire and solitary bell,
which was formerly the private chapel of the Palace. There are still a few
monuments, but the only important feature is the top of the font, which is of
Purbeck marble, octagonal, and with simple ornament of rounded arches. It is
certainly nth century work, and was probably placed there in the time of the
Confessor. The parish register does not begin till 1677.
The ancient whipping-post and double pair of stocks on the pleasant village
green were examined, and then a charming walk was taken through the meadows
of Pyrgo Park, gay with wild flowers, among which acres of the Yellow Rattle (Rhi-
nanthus crista-galli, L.) attracted some attention. The house and park of Pyrgo
was usually in early days made over as part dowry of the Queen's Consort, and
was generally their place of retreat when they survived. Thus it was held as dower
by Eleanor of Castille, wife of Edward I. (la chere-rayne of Charing Cross) ; by
Isabella, wife of Edward II. ; by Anne of Bohemia ; and Isabella of Valois ;
the two wives of Richard II. ; by Joan of Navarre, second wife of Henry IV.
(who was seized here on a charge of compassing the king's death by sorcery); and
by others.
Queen Elizabeth granted Pyrgo to Sir John Grey (uncle of Lady Jane Grey),
whose son sold it to Sir Thomas Cheke, in whose family it continued, and thence
1 For the story of the ring see Stanley's "Westminster Abbey," and a paper by Mr. Waterton
in the '' Archaeological Journal," vol, xxi.—Ed.