Journal of Proceedings. xxxvii
be the latest representation of the canonical vestments on an English
brass.
The lecturer then entered into some interesting details of the history of
the manors and mansions contained in the parish, which would be out of
our scope to reproduce ; * and went on to say that Chigwell, although it
could not claim to be the birth-place of any men of world-wide fame,
might yet be proud of several who lived and worked in the village, and
who must in their days have influenced its life and character. Of these
Samuel Harsnett, Archbishop of York, must be of most local interest—
born in 1561, in St. Botolph's Street, Colchester, and the son of a baker,
he was, therefore, an Essex man. Getting some learning, how the speaker
knew not, he was sent to Cambridge; and in 1597 he became Vicar of
Chigwell, and successively of other parishes in the county; also Arch-
deacon of Essex, Bishop of Chichester, and later of Norwich. On the lath
of April, 1629, he founded the two Free Schools, one called the Grammar,
the other the English school. His regulations for the schools are par-
ticular and quaint; for instance, the lads are "to read the ancient Greek
and Latin poets, but no novelties nor conceited modern writers";
and again, "it is expressly provided that the master be no puffer of
tobacco." The schools were founded for the use of Chigwell and neigh-
bouring parishes, and have no doubt sent many good men and true into
the world. But their most famous scholar was William Penn, founder of
Pennsylvania: Penn was born October 14th, 1644, on Tower Hill, and his
childhood from about 1650 to 1655 was spent at Wanstead. He must
have entered the school when nearly ten years of age; how long he
remained in it the speaker could find no trace. Surely Chigwell and
Essex might claim to have had their influence in forming the character
and directing the future life of the great Quaker Colonist. That year,
almost that month, 200 years ago, the New England Colony was founded.
Their American cousins were about to celebrate its bi-centenary, and it
was well for them at Chigwell to recall it to their remembrance.
Chigwell's best known Rector, Mr. Unwin thought, was the Rev. William
Paley. In 1794 the Bishop of London presented him with the Prebend of
St. Pancras, which included the Rectory of Chigwell. The same year he
published his well-known work, ' A View of the Evidences of Christianity';
that, with his other famous books, 'Horte Paulines' and 'Natural
Theology' were still read and used as text-books in schools. Before
Paley, in point of date, we find John Rogers had the Rectory conferred on
him in August, 1551. Previously, whilst Chaplain at Antwerp, he
assisted Tyndale and Coverdale in making the first translation of the Bible
into English. Whilst Rector of Chigwell, during Queen Mary's reign, he
was burnt at Smithfield, at the instigation of Bishop Bonner, on February
* The full text of Mr. Unwin's paper was given in the ' Essex Times' for Friday,
July 1st, 1881, to which we beg to refer our readers ; and the Editor is glad to acknow-
ledge his indebtedness to the excellent reports of our meetings contained in that
newspaper.—Ed.