THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 153
While not comparable with the above in costliness or beauty, there
are one or two other monuments of interest. An altar tomb in the south
wall of the chancel commemorates Robert Cammocke, of Layer Marney,
who died in 1585 and on the north wall of the chancel is a marble monu-
ment to Nicholas Corsellis, who died October 19th, 1674, erected by his
cousin and executor, John Corsellis. The Latin inscription perpetuate:
an unfounded claim that an ancestor introduced the art of printing into
England.
"Artem typographi miratam Belgicus Anglis Corsellis docuit
Regis prece munere victis,"
which has been translated:—
"The printer's admired art was taught to Englishmen by Corsellis
a Fleming, prayed and paid by Henry VI. so to do."
The Legend began with the statement in a tract entitled "The Origin
and Growth of Printing" by Robt. Atkyns, published in 1664, but all the
evidence leads to the conclusion that Atkyns, while writing in all good
faith, was the victim of a hoax.
This Nicholas bought Layer Marney in 1667 for £7,200 and his great
grandson, Nicholas Caesar Corsellis, in addition to Layer Marney, had a
seat at Woodford Bridge: his mother, Frances, was daughter of Sir Caesar
Child, also intimately connected with Woodford.
The roof timbering is good, and Morant has a note concerning the
north aisle that it was "formerly leaded but now tiled, the Churchwardens
having sold the lead to make bullets during the civil wars of the last
century." A very fine oak chest stands in the north aisle with two locks
and heavily covered with strong iron plates. It is 7ft. 2in. long, 2ft. 2in.
broad, and 2ft. high. The last Lord Marney, after giving instructions
in his will for certain articles of silver for use in the church, goes on to
provide for their safe custody as follows:—
"And for the sure custody and keeping of the said plate to be
"remaining in the said chapel of Layer Church I will that myn executours
"shall ordeyn a strong coffer with two locks and two keys, whereof I
"will that the Parson of the said churche for the tyme being shall alwey
"have the oon, and the church wardeyns of the same Church for the
"tyme being the other keye, under whose such keeping I woll the said
"plate to be always locked within the said coffer, except such tymes
"as when it shall be occupied in fourme aforesaid, and which coffer I
"will stande to and be sette within the stepull of the said church."
As this chest is of 14th or 15th century workmanship the suggestion
made in Messrs. Lewer and Wall's Church Chests of Essex that it is an
old domestic chest from the adjoining mansion is probably correct.
Finally, attention may be drawn to the very large figure of St.
Christopher bearing the Christ child which will be found in a rectangular
panel on the north wall of the nave.
After a detailed inspection of this interesting church and the ascent of
the massive W. tower, whence a clear view of the mouth of the Blackwater
is obtained, the visitors returned to Layer Marney Hall and spent some
time in a tour of the gardens.