THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
233
its extent, and the population, in the reigns of Edward the Confessor and of William
the Norman. Mr. Fitch gave details of possessors of land in Maldon from the
Domesday Book of Essex, and showed from it that this borough, like most others,
belonged to the king, and that at the time of the survey the hall and houses were
rented to the burgesses. The last of the De Mandevilles, who died in Normandy
in 1189 or 1190, in view of his great possessions in Essex, procured from Henry II.
the first Charter of Maldon, which is stated to be confirmatory of such privileges
as were granted "by Henry our grandfather." The charter (which is now either
lost or mislaid) conferred most ample privileges, and granted manifold exemptions
from the usages of feudalism, which pressed so hardly on the rest of the country,
which must have made a Maldon freeman feel himself indeed a citizen of no
mean city. With these privileges the borough probably became a prosperous
community after the troublous times of the long Danish wars. Mr. Fitch read a
translation of the charter, made by himself; it is dated at Pembroke on the 7th
day of October. The precise year has been a subject of dispute, but Mr. Fitch
gives reasons (in the reprint of his address above alluded to) for thinking that it
was 1171, not 1155 as commonly stated. Mr. Fitch also recited the various
confirmatory charters, extending from Edward I. (6th June, 1290) to George III.
(8th October, 1810), and explained the custom of landcheap, which was a payment
to the Chamberlain of 10d. for each mark of the price of land at every alienation
within the borough, and which from a reference in an ancient grant of Henry
I. or IV. (probably the latter) appears to have been originally granted by William
Rufus, and was enforced until 1615, when it fell into abeyance.4
Maldon returned two members to Parliament from the year 1329 (3rd Edward
III.) until its representation was reduced to one member by the Reform Act of
1867, and by the redistribution of Seats Bill of 1885 we lost our separate repre-
sentation, which was merged in the county division. Again shorn of some of our
administrative privileges by the Local Government Act of 1888, Maldon still
retains its Corporation and separate Quarter and Petty Sessions, and I am sure
you will all wish that this ancient and loyal Borough, which has left its mark on the
history of the county, may long continue.—Floreat Maldona.
A very hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for his address was carried, on
the motion of Mr. G. F. Beaumont and Mr. Crouch, and the party then ascended
to the leaded roof of the Moot Hall (noticing the newel staircase, with moulded
brick hand-rail, supposed to be almost unique) to gain some idea of the geography
of the country they were about to explore. From this coign of 'vantage a most
extensive prospect was obtained, ranging over the eastern part of the county from
the Thames to the Colne, and the landscape, seen in the calm brightness of an
autumnal afternoon, was certainly a fine and varied one.
From the Town Hall the party went to All Saints' Church, where they were
received by the Vicar, the Rev. E. R. Horwood, who with the assistance of Mr.
Crouch and Mr. Fitch, explained the many features of architectural and historical
interest of the building. The church has suffered more from the vandalism of the
past, and the still more destructive recent "restorations," than from the effects of
time. Monuments have been demolished wholesale, brasses removed, and the
ceiling of the chancel has been decorated with a gorgeous array of stars on a blue
ground. It is a spacious Early English building, with nave and chancel separated
from the D'Arcy Chapel by an arcade of arches supported by slender clustered
columns of Purbeck marble in which minute shells can be clearly distinguished.
4 One very remarkable custom formerly obtained in Maldon (as well as in Woodford and
probably at other places in the county), viz., that the copyhold tenure, was what is known as
Borough English, the youngest son, and not the eldest, succeeding to bis father's estates—"the
olde auncient and lawdable custome of this Burrough is and hath byn tyme out of mynde of man,
that if the father die seized in a howse or land within the franchise of this Burrough, the yongest
sonne of the first wiffe shall have the heritage," etc.—Ed.