Journal of Proceedings. liii
highest points in Essex, and from it a magnificent view was obtained in
all directions over the surrounding country. Several of the gentlemen of
the party ascended the tower, the scene from which amply repaid the
awkwardness of a part of the climb—that through the belfry, to wit,
which might well dismay unpractised climbers. The air was not too
clear, and the mist hid some of the more distant points, only lifting a
little to allow of a perplexing uncertain glimpse, and then closing and
blotting all out. But though bright sunshine would doubtless have made
the prospect much grander, it was yet a very fine one. In the distance
was the town of Maldon, and southwards lines of light showed the course
of the river Crouch and the mouth of the Thames, and those visitors
whose acquaintance with Essex and its many scenic beauties was limited,
were charmed with the outlook and were even ready to admit how little
the county deserves the commonly bestowed stigma of tameness.
In the building itself Mr. Chancellor's descriptive powers and archi-
tectural lore were again called into requisition to amuse and instruct the
visitors. Danbury Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, contains,
as was pointed out to the visitors, memorials of the days of the Crusaders
not to be exceeded, it is said, by any others of the kind in the kingdom,
not even by those in the Temple Church. The carved benches and stalls
in the chancel, and the beautiful stone altar screen, are the work of the
modern artificer on the occasion of the restoration of the Church some
years ago ; but the piscina and part of the sedilia speak of ancient days,
and portions of the building are of very old date. The building has been
twice injured by lightning, once in 1402, concerning which Hollingshed
states in his ' Devil of Danbury '—" Vpon Corpus Christi day, in the
yeare 1402, the third of Henry the Fourth, at evensong time, the Devill
entred into this Church, in the likeness of a Gray frier, and raged
horribly, playing his parts like a Devill indeed, to the great astonishement
and fear of the parishioners; and the same houre with a tempest of
whirlewind and thunder, the top of the steeple was broken downe, and
halfe of the chancel scattered abroad." And again, on 5th February,
1749-50, lightning struck fire to the spire and about 20 feet of it was
burnt. Under low arches in the walls of the aisles are three recumbent
figures of cross-legged knights carved in wood, which are undoubtedly
effigies of three crusaders of the St. Clere family, the former lords of the
parish. The feet of each figure are supported by a lion, and every lion
and every man is in a different position—a fact which is considered by
certain learned antiquarians to be emblematic of the manner of their
deaths. The crossed legs of the effigies go to show that the warriors
whom they represent were crusaders of the days of Richard or Edward I.
The body of one of these crusaders was discovered about 100 years ago
by some workmen who were digging a grave. It was encased in a leaden
shell with two outer coffins, and was found to be in a good state of preser-
vation, this being due to the influence of a liquor in which it was lying.
Leaving the Church, an inspection was made of the ancient camp,