The church is a small building of red brick, with red-brick mullions to its windows--a curious example of early sixteenth-century work. Of the charming old black-and-white half-timbered houses adjoining, that next the toll-gate is the residence of Miss Ellen Terry. CHAPTER XXV LYDD--DUNGENESS--CAMBER-ON-SEA Three miles from New Romney, across the levels, is the remote little town of Lydd, in the midst of Dunge Marsh. Its remoteness rendered Lydd a suitable place for artillery-camps and the surrounding wastes a favourable location for practice with high explosives. It was here, indeed, that “Lyddite” was invented. The town nestles within a group of trees--whether planted for shelter, or just by chance, it would be difficult to say. Its chief glories are the fine old church, well known as the “Cathedral of the Marsh,” and the brewery. In the vast interior of the church lie the old Mayors and jurats of the brave times of yore. In the churchyard one may read the epitaph of “LIEUT. THOS EDGAR of the Royal Navy who departed this life Oct^r 17th 1801 Aged 56 years. He came into the Navy at 10 Years of age was in that memorable Engagement with Adm^l Hawk & sail’d round the World in company with the unfortunate Captain Cook of the Resolution in his last Voyage when he was killed by the Indians at the Island of O whie in the South Seas the 14th Feby 1778 Tom Edgar at last has sail’d out of this World His shroud is put on & his top sails are furld He lies snug in deaths boat without any Concern And is moor’d for a full due ahead & a Stern O’er the Compass of Life he has merrily run His Voyage is Completed, his reckoning is done.” Here too, is an epitaph on a smuggler, one George Walker, who was shot in 1819: “Let it be known that I am clay, A bace man took my life away; Yet freely do I him forgive. And hope in Heaven we both shall live. “Wife and children I’ve left behind, And to the Lord I them resign. I hope he will their steps attend And bring them to a happy end.” The ancient Chamberlain’s accounts of about 1475 show that misdemeanants had the very worst of times at Lydd. First we find it ordered “That anyone found cuttyng or pikeyng purses, or other goods of lytille value, be brought to the high strete and there his ere nayled to a post or cart whele.” Then follows: “Paid for naylyng of Thomas Norys is ere _12d_” There was a grim quality about the justice of those times. A knife was handed to the offender, so that he might release himself by cutting off his ear whenever he chose. The term of imprisonment therefore depended entirely upon himself.