THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
77
forest laws of the Norman kings, who lived at "Pryors," to which way was then
made across the meadows.
Vegetation was especially advanced in sheltered, sunny places. The
Hawthorns showed an abundance of flower-buds, and at least one fully
opened spray was gathered. It was noted that the foliage on that particular
flowering shoot was more like that of the Plum than Hawthorn, both as
regards form and margin. Ivy-leaved Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia), Jack-by-
the-Hedge (Erysimum alliaria), Stitchwort, Arum, Strawberry-leaved Potentilla
(P. fragariastrum), Beaked Parsley, Ground-ivy, Goldilocks (Ranunculus aurico-
mus) were a few of the plants collected, In many spots Mr. Houston found
that the leaves of Ranunculus ficaria were covered with the "Cluster-cups" of
Uromyces poor, a fungal parasite, which, as its name testifies, passes part of
its life in some species of Poa (either P. annua, P. pratensis, or P. trivialis).
One or two examples of the "Cluster-cups" of Puccinia perplexans on Ranunculus
acris were also found. The summer stage of this parasite is passed on the
Meadow Fox-tail grass (Alopecurus pratensis).
At "Pryors," the members were most hospitably received by Mr. Miller
Christy, and some time was spent over "afternoon tea," and in examining the
house and its contents, including some very fine rubbings of Essex Brasses, which
are pet studies of Mr. Christy,
"Pryors" is the remains of what was until recently an extremely picturesque,
but moderate-sized and unpretentious Elizabethan manor-house. It is situate in
the south-west part of Broomfield parish, about a mile from the church. The
estate originally belonged to the Priory of Blackmore, hence the origin of its
name. Upon the suppression of the monasteries, it was granted, on 17th
October, 1544, by Henry VIII. to Richard Roger and Robert Taverner. After
being owned in succession by William Garrard, William Eyre, father and son,
Thomas Wallenger, and Edward Elliot (see Morant's "Essex," vol. ii., p. 77),
the estate passed about 1590 into the possession of the Manwoods, who
held it for more than a century. John Manwood, of Lincoln's Inn, coun-
sellor-at-law, and author of a well-known work on the "Forest Laws"
(London, 4to, 1592), probably built the present house. He devised the
estate to this son Thomas, of Lincoln's Inn, and of Pryors, who died 20th
September, 1656. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Love, Vice-
Admiral in the reign of James I., and left an only surviving son John, and
numerous daughters, one of whom, Love Manwood, married Thomas Cox, vicar
of Broomfield, the author of many learned translations, and compiler of six vols.
of "Magna Britannia," and died at the age of ninety-nine. John Manwood
died nth April, 1705, leaving a son Thomas, who died unmarried, and be-
queathed the estate to Thomas, son of his sister Catherine, married as second
wife to Oliver Pocklington, rector of Chelmsford. Thomas Pocklington,
attorney-at-law, of Chelmsford, erected, on 26th January, 1728, a marble monu-
ment in Broomfield Church, to the memory of his ancestors, of the Latin
inscription of which a translation is given by Wright in his "History of Essex"
(vol. ii., p. 187). From Thomas Pocklington, or his descendants, "Pryors" was
purchased, about the beginning of the present century, by Mr. Miller Christy,
great-grandfather of the present tenant. From him it descended to Mr. Samuel
Christy (afterwards Christie-Miller), and, on his death in 1889, it became the
property of Mr. Wakefield Christie-Miller.
Until the year 1890, the house, which stands some distance back from the
road, among a number of fine elm-trees, exhibited on its eastern side, a series of
five antique gables, with two clusters of imposing, though rather plain, brick
chimneys, four in each. The northernmost gable, which is of brick, is the most
picturesque, presenting a bow window with brick mullions, carried up to the
second storey. This gable, together with the chimney-stacks, and the northern