Diary of Edward VI. 15 Apr 1551. A conspiracy opened of the Essex men, who within three dayes after minded to declare the comming of straungers, and so to bring peple together to Chemsford [Map], and then to spoile the riche men's houses if they could.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 05 Oct 1557. The v day of October was bered at Chemford [Map] in Essex the wyff of master Thomas Myldmay (age 72), sqwyre, and audetor, with ij whytt branchys, and ij dosen of grett stayffe torchys, and iiij dosen of skochyons, and mony mornars in blake.

Note. P. 154. Funeral of mistress Mildmay. Agnes, daughter of - Read and wife of Thomas Mildmay (age 72) esquire, auditor of the court of augmentations, who shared so largely in the spoil of the monasteries that he greatly enriched his family, and (contrary to the view taken by Spelman "on Sacrilege," &c.) his descendants flourished so much, that in the reign of James I. there were nine families of Mildmay possessed of large estates in Essex. (See Morant, ii. 4). Sir Walter Mildmay of Apthorpe in Northamptonshire, chancellor of the exchequer to queen Elizabeth, founder of Emanuel college Cambridge, and ancestor of the earls of Westmoreland, was the auditor's fourth and youngest son. His eldest son, having married the heiress of the Ratcliffes earls of Sussex, brought the dignity of baron FitzWalter to his descendants, of whom the last in the male line was created earl FitzWalter in 1730, and died s. p. in 1756.

Evelyn's Diary. 10 Jul 1656. I returned homeward, passing again through Colchester [Map]; and, by the way, near the ancient town of Chelmsford [Map], saw New Hall, built in a park by Henry VII. and VIII., and given by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Sussex, who sold it to the late great Duke of Buckingham, and since seized on by Oliver Cromwell (age 57) (pretended Protector). It is a fair old house, built with brick, low, being only of two stories, as the manner then was; the gate-house better; the court, large and pretty; the staircase, of extraordinary wideness, with a piece representing Sir Francis Drake's action in the year 1580, an excellent sea-piece; the galleries are trifling; the hall is noble; the garden a fair plot, and the whole seat well accommodated with water; but, above all, I admired the fair avenue planted with stately lime trees, in four rows, for near a mile in length. It has three descents, which is the only fault, and may be reformed. There is another fair walk of the same at the mall and wilderness, with a tennis-court, and pleasant terrace toward the park, which was well stored with deer and ponds.

The Great Road left London at Aldgate Gate [Map] after which it crossed the River Lea then continues to Gallows Corner [Map], through Brentwood [Map], Ingatestone [Map], White's Place [Map] after which it reaches Caesaromagus aka Chelmsford [Map].

The Great Road leaves Chelmsford [Map] along Sprinfield Road [Map] through Boreham [Map], Hatfield Peverel [Map], Witham [Map], Kelvedon [Map] aka Canonium, Marks Tey [Map] where it was joined by Stane Street to Chichester before reaching Colchester [Map] aka Camulodunum.

The River Chelmer rises near River Chelmer from where it flows past Great Easton [Map], Great Dunmow [Map], Flitch Green [Map], Hartford End [Map], Howe Street [Map], Little Waltham [Map], Broomfield [Map], around Chelmsford [Map].

After Chelmsford [Map] the River Chelmer continues past Little Baddow [Map], Ulting [Map], Beeleigh Abbey [Map], Maldon [Map] after which it joins the River Blackwater.

The River Can rises at High Easter [Map] from where it flows past Clatterford End [Map], Frambridge End [Map], Chignall St James [Map] and Writtle [Map] to Chelmsford [Map] where it joins the River Chelmer.