ESSEX.
This county is bounded, on the east, by the German Ocean; on the north, by
the river Stour, and the counties of Suffolk and Cambridge; on the west, by
Hertfordshire and the river Stort; the river Lea divides it from Middlesex, and
it is separated from Kent by the Thames. There are also several inland rivers,
which intersect the county at different places; as the Roding, the Chelmer, ttye
Cam, the Colm, the Crouch, and the Pant, or Blackwater.
The forest of Essex comprehended almost the whole county: a record of
12 Henry III. describes its boundaries, at that time, from Stratford-bridge to
Cattewad-bridge, in length, and from Stane-street to the Thames, in breadth.
The circumference of Essex is about 225 miles; its length, from east to
west, 61; its breadth, from north to south, 50 miles. The highest hills in it
are those of Danburyand Langdon. , ,
The office of forester was in the Fitz Aucher family, of Copthall, as low dpwn
as the reign of Edward I.
The stewardship of the forest was in the De Veres, Earls of Oxford; they
were deprived of it for their adherence to the house of Lancaster. Henry VII,
restored it to the family. r .
In Essex are found vestiges of all the nations which possessed Britain.
These consist of earthworks, tumuli, Roman camps and roads, Saxon remains of
churches, monasteries, castles, gates, &c. which will be given in their respective
situations,
