THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
169
By lane and fieldpath the church of Theydon Mount was reached
after a walk of a mile or so, and here the rector, the Rev. Sidney M. Stanley,
M.A., cordially welcomed the party and pointed out the many features of
interest which this little church presents, including the various pretentious
tombs of the Smyth family.
Particular attention was given to the elaborate tomb to Sir Thomas
Smyth, 1577, with its quaint superscription approved of nature-lovers,
which runs: "What Y'earth or Sea, or Skies conteyne, what Creatures in
"them be, My Mynde did seeke to knowe, my Soule the Heavens con-
"tinually"; and its concluding Latin inscription, which has been trans-
lated as "My life was blameless; if after my death you hurt my fame,
"Wretch, the Almighty will punish thee for so doing."
The rector remarked that the earlier church was wholly burnt down
in 1611 and the present brick edifice built by Sir William Smyth, of Hill
Hall, in or about 1614.
Two funeral garlands suspended from the nave roof have no counter-
parts elsewhere in Essex churches, and are rarely present anywhere in
this country, although such mementoes of the deaths of young unmarried
girls were probably frequent in olden days. Nine widows' hatchments
commemorate members of the Smyth and Bowyer families. The registers
were produced for our inspection; they date from 1564. The church
plate, which was also exhibited, includes a fine chalice with cover paten of
date 1614.
A walk across the fields brought the party to the rectory of Stapleford
Tawney (which benefice is also held by the same incumbent as Theydon
Mount) and here, in the garden, by kind invitation of Mr. Stanley, the
visitors enjoyed, while partaking of lunch, a fine view screened by trees
from the north wind and open to the warm south. A noble bush of the
Mexican Orange (Choisya ternata), in full flower, revelled in the warm
aspect afforded by the garden-front of the house.
Our vice-president, Mr. Glegg, expressed the thanks of the party to the
rector for his leadership and kindly welcome, and the visitors took their
leave.
A short visit was paid to Stapleford Tawney church, to inspect the two
12th cent. stone coffins in the churchyard, and then the long cross-country
ramble, by fieldpath and green lane, was entered upon, in the direction of
Toot Hill, which gave scope to the naturalists to pursue their various
quests.
Sixty wild plants were noted in flower, including Ranunculus auricomus,
Viola Riviniana, Primula veris, Lamium Galeobdolon, Euphorbia Amygda-
loides and Allium ursinum, the Misses Greaves and Prince acting as
recorders. Of the birds, Mr. Glegg, who acted as conductor and referee,
noted 24 species, his list including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap,
Mistle-Thrush, Swallow, Cuckoo, Kestrel, Lapwing, Common Gull (a flock,
resting on the ploughland), and Pheasant. Mr. Glegg notes that the strong
wintry wind operated adversely in rendering mute birds which, in such
favourable country, should have been singing lustily.
Arrived at Toot Hill shortly before 5 o'clock, tea was taken at the
"Green Man" inn, after which a specially chartered motor-coach conveyed