at St. Andrew's, Newcastle-on-Tyne (1387); Sir Robert Bardolf at Mapledurham, Oxon (1395); John Ffynexs at St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmunds (1514); Anthony Hansart and his wife Katherine at March, Cambridgeshire (1517); and Barbara Plumleigh at Part II. of the St. Petrock's, Dartmouth (1610). Portfolio is issued (post free) to members at half a crown, and to non-members for a shilling extra. It can be obtained from the honorary treasurer, O. J. Charlton, Esq., I, Eldon Square, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The plates measure, we should add, 18 inches by 11. PROCEEDINGS. At a meeting of the BRITISH ARCHEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION held on April 17, Mrs. Dent, of Sudely Castle, sent for exhibition a careful rubbing of a Spanish tile from a church in Cordova, having considerable interest from its bearing the arms of the Count de Cabra, the captain of the famous Boabdil, the last of the Moorish kings, at the battle of Lucena, when twenty-two banners were taken by the Christians. King Ferdinand, in reward for this service, bestowed many favours upon the count, amongst others the right for himself and his descendants to bear as his arms a Moor's head crowned, with a gold chain around the neck, in a sanguine field, and with twenty banners bordering the escutcheon. These were distinctly visible upon the rubbing exhibited. Mrs. Dent also submitted a large number of illustrations of encaustic tiles found at Hailes Abbey, Gloucestershire, now preserved in a pavement at Southram; others from Hailes Church and the parish church of Winchcombe, and from the ruins of Winchcombe Abbey, some being of the thirteenth, but the majority of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Mr. Earle Way exhibited some examples of Roman pottery found in High Street, Southwark, on the site of the Blue-eyed Maid publichouse, now being rebuilt. One of these formed a portion of a mortarium bearing the letters "TUCEM"; another, a piece of Samian ware, has "OF PASSIEM within a circular label. The honorary secretary (Mr. Patrick) exhibited some fine examples of ancient chest keys, one of Norman date found many years ago at Birchington, in Thanet ; another of Italian design and workman. ship was much admired. He also exhibited a very fine gold medal, the badge of some foreign religious order, bearing on one side in high relief the head of the Saviour crowned with thorns, and on the other the head of the Virgin; the chasing of the ornamental bordering appeared to indicate French design and execution. A paper was afterwards read by the Rev. H. Cart, M.A., describing his recent visit to Carthage. The paper was illustrated by photographs of the chief remains of the ancient city, together with a plan of the Basilica of Damos-el-Kerita and of the famous cisterns, both before and after restoration, one of which now supplies the Goletta and Marsa with water, having a storage capacity of 27,000 cubic metres. At the April meeting of the SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF NEWCASTLE, the Rev. R. Coulton exhibited a curious early eighteenth-century medal of brass with a stem, probably used as a pipe stopper, 66 " found in Kirkmerrington churchyard, representing on one side the pope's head, on the other a cardinal's head; the medal being turned upside down, they appear as the devil and a fool respectively. The Rev. H. E. Savage, vicar of St. Hild's, South Shields, read a paper on Easington Church, co. Durham,' which will be printed in the Archeologia Eliana in extenso. Mr. George Reavell, junr., of Alnwick, also read some "Notes on Recent Discoveries at Hulne Priory," as follows: "I am entitling my halfdozen sentences as they are entered in the agenda paper of this evening, but the title may be misleading to the extent of indicating something more than the small matter I may lay before you now. The careful excavation and examination instituted by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland in 1888-89, and carried through by my father, under the directions of Mr. St. John Hope, was of so thorough a nature that only an accident can reveal anything further. But as an accident in the shape of a drain trench striking upon the interesting grave cover of Loreta de Botry was the indirect cause of the excavations at Alnwick Abbey, when the whole of the arrangements and many interesting details were brought to light, so an accident at Hulne, in the shape of alterations to the keeper's house, has resulted in the discovery of a feature which helps to verify Mr. St. John Hope's designation of the ancient purpose of the building in which it is placed. In order that the position of the various buildings may be called again to mind, I show you the plan made by my father on the occasion of Mr. St. John Hope's examination of the remains. That in which the keeper now lives, and which contains the recently opened arch, is called by Tate in his History of Alnwick 'The Stranger's Chapel,' and Clarkson in his survey made shortly after the dissolution of monasteries (Grose dates Clarkson's survey at about 1527-I think this should be some years later) this building is described as 'a house covered with sklaite . . . the neather parte of the saide house is called the farmery, the over parte serveth for a gardner for corne.' The 'farmery' here may be easily a corruption of infirmatorium, which is the use of the building as assigned by Mr. St. John Hope. We now come to the point of this note. You will see that the building is shaped like a small church, with nave and chancel, the part corresponding to the nave being called by Mr. Hope the infirmatorium, or residence of the sick and infirm brethren, and the part corresponding to a chancel the chapel. There is shown in Clarkson's survey an opening between these two apartments, which opening has been for many years blocked by the fireplaces in the keeper's house. A re-arrangement of the rooms of the keeper's house being necessary, a corre sponding change in the fireplaces was required, and in taking down the old chimney breasts an arch was discovered of the dimension and outline shown on this drawing. There are two peculiar hagioscopes at the side of this archway, and they are, I think, interesting as showing the provision made for persons not easily able to move about to see the altar. The peculiar plan of these openings verifies this. Neither archway nor hagioscopes show any traces of door hangings, though the latter have checks. An arrangement was made and sanctioned by Earl Percy whereby one side of this interesting arch is allowed to remain uncovered, the fireplace necessary for the use of the room being recessed in the arch, and the dressed work of the latter left exposed. Unfortunately, it was not possible to leave the side bare, which showed the dressed work of the hagioscopes; but a drawing of these, of which this is a copy, has been preserved. Our gratitude is certainly due to Earl Percy for consenting to the re-arrangement of the plan for the alteration to the house I have detailed, as it has been at considerable increase of cost. I trust the matter has been of sufficient interest to have occupied your time for the few minutes I have taken." One of the secretaries (Mr. Blair) thus announced the recent discovery of a Roman altar at South Shields: "On Monday, April 8, a Roman altar was discovered in South Shields at the corner of Baring and Trajan Streets, about 100 yards due south of the south-west angle of the Roman station, as the ground was being prepared for building purposes. The stone is 2 feet 10 inches high, 16 inches wide top and bottom, and 13 inches from back to front. On one side is a præfericulum, on the other a patera, while on the back is a bird; on the top are the focus and horns. On the face, in a moulded panel, is the inscription in five lines: DEAE BR[I] | GANTIAE | SACRVM | CONGENN[I]C | CVS VSL M. The letters in the first line are 2 inches long, in the last line 1 inches, in the others 1 inches. One corner of the altar has been knocked off, as has been the last letter of the first line; with these exceptions the altar is perfect. The owner of the land on which the object was found has presented it to the museum of the public library at South Shields, where it can be seen. Another record of the Dea Brigantia is on an altar discovered at Birrens, near Middleby, in Dumfriesshire, about a hundred years ago. This is now in the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh; it is No. 1,062 of the Corpus Inscr. Lat., vol. vii. Mr. Haverfield informs me that the name of the goddess occurs on a nearly illegible altar at Adel, on two others also, probably from this station, and on one discovered at Castlesteads, but now lost." The annual meeting of the NORFOLK AND NORWICH ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY was held on April 24. -The Rev. W. Hudson read the annual report, which, after reviewing the excursions held under the auspices of the society during the past year, alluded to the reopening of the choir of Norwich Cathedral after extensive cleaning and re-arrangements. "The society," the report continued, "desires to record its sense of the care which has evidently been taken by the Dean and Chapter to avoid, as far as possible, any interference with structural details. The general result has, no doubt, been to enhance the beauty of this part of the cathedral. But all alterations, however carefully made, tend to obliterate architectural details, by the aid of which practised eye could read much of the history of the past. It is much to be wished that in such cases an exact record should be made of what has been done." Adverting to the conversion of the old castle keep into an integral portion of the new castle museum, the report expressed "satisfaction at the excellent manner in which, on the whole, the antiquarian interest of the building has been preserved. Some may have wished to see it left as a ruin; but it is pertinent to observe that it is to its preparation for its present use that we owe the revelation of nearly all the architectural details, which add so much to its interest, and which are now effectually secured against future decay." Reference was made to the efforts of the Yarmouth branch to preserve Eccles Tower, but the notes which Mr. F. Danby Palmer had read upon this work had to be altered into a record of the destruction of the tower. The committee announced the early issue of the concluding portion of vol. ii. of The Norfolk Visitation, and added, "They feel that they cannot adequately express the thanks of the society to General Bulwer for the skill and perseverance with which he has conducted this laborious work for so many years at no little cost as well as labour. He began this volume with two coadjutors-one, the Rev. William Grigson, died in 1879; the other, Mr. Carthew, in 1882, since which time he has borne the burden alone. The volume will be accompanied with a full index, for which the society's thanks are due to the Rev. Edmund Farrer, F.S.A." Referring to the death of Mr. Robert Fitch, F.G.S., F.S.A., whose connection with the society dated back to its commencement, the report stated, "The first volume of Norfolk Archeology contains a notice by him of a 'Seal of Carrow Nunnery,' and he survived till the last portion of vol. xii. was passing through the press. His principal contribution to local archeology was 'The Gates of Norwich,' published by the society as a separate volume in 1861. This society was instituted in 1845, and Mr. Fitch was one of the original members. He was elected on the committee on January 6, 1848. Before 1859 he was both treasurer and hon. secretary. He continued to act as hon. secretary until 1887, and as hon. treasurer till 1888, and only relinquished these offices under stress of old age. On ceasing to act as hon. secretary, he was elected a vice-president of the society. Of the valu. able collections of antiquities and objects of varied interest which he gathered together during his long life, it is not necessary here to speak. He has left behind him an abiding memory by his generous dona tion of them to the castle museum." The deaths of Bishop Pelham (a patron of the society), Lord Arthur Hervey, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and the Earl of Orford (two of the vice-presidents), and others, were alluded to, and regret was expressed that the Rev. C. R. Manning, F.S.A., had signified his wish to resign the office of hon. secretary, which he had held for forty-three years. The report proceeded to say that "Mr. Manning's services to the society during that long period have been so numerous and valuable that it is impossible adequately to describe what the society owes to him. The history of them would almost be the history of the society itself during the greater part of its existence. In thanking him for all he has done, we may hope that he may still for many years be able to give us the benefit of his counsel and assistance, and the committee propose, as a slight recognition of his services, to place his name on the list of vice-presidents." Dr. Jessop was also elected a vice-president, and Mr. L. G. Bolingbroke was appointed excursion secretary. Other business having been transacted, Dr. Bensly exhibited, by the kind permission of Mrs. Green, of Caister Hall, near Norwich, a few Roman imperial coins, discovered last year outside the camp at Caister, and fragments of the urn in which they were contained. The most rare coin appeared to be one of the Emperor Otho's brief reign, A.D. 69. Accounts of former discoveries of coins at Caister had been com. municated to the society on two occasions some years ago, by the late Mr. Fitch. Dr. Bensly also reported a recent discovery of another Roman kiln for pottery at Caister. Mr. Bolingbroke then read an interesting paper on the local history of "Plays and Playhouses." The annual meeting of the SUFFOLK INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY was held at Bury St. Edmunds on April 22. The Rev. C. R. Manning, Rector of Diss, presided. The hon. secretary (Rev. F. Haslewood, F.S.A.) submitted the annual report of the Council, which, after alluding to various matters connected with the work of the society during the year, proceeded to state that "Church Plate in Suffolk continues to make satisfactory progress. Six deaneries have been finished and published, and it is proposed to continue this undertaking- -a branch of work organized under the auspices of the Institute which is attracting a good deal of notice, and which bids fair to add greatly to the value of the operations already completed." On the proposition of Mr. H. C. Casley, seconded by the Rev. W. E. Layton, the report was unanimously adopted. Lord Henniker was again chosen president. The hon. secretary (Rev. F. Haslewood) was unanimously reappointed, with thanks for his past services. Mr. Beckford Bevan was formally re-elected treasurer. The chairman suggested the desirability of making the annual meeting more attractive by the reading of papers and otherwise enkindling interest, so that journeys involved might prove more profitable from an archæological point of view. Reviews and Motices [Publishers are requested to be so good as always to mark clearly the prices of books sent for review, as these notices are intended to be a practical aid to book-buying readers.] OUR SUN GOD; OR, CHRISTIANITY BEFORE Christ, by John Denham Parsons. Published by the Author. Pp. 214. Price 3s. 6d. net. This is a puerile book, and as the author states that it is but the first of a contemplated series of six, it is true kindness to point out to him that he will be exceedingly lucky if he obtains six readers! We never read such strange reasons for taking up literature as are contained in the last sentence of the preface, and if the poor man felt that he must write, why, in the name of all that is holy, should he select the most profound of all sciences-theology--on which to let VOL. XXXI. his pen run loose? Here is the sentence: "The author would like to explain that the four years' daily research, of which this present volume is the first tangible result, was more or less due to the fact that in January, 1891, two disasters befell him-his aged father, since deceased, suddenly marrying again one week, and the limited company, of which the author had for ten years been an official, collapsing the week after. Left thus, a bachelor of thirty, with an unexpectedly small income, no home, and no enforced occupation, the author has so far found it necessary to busy himself in literary pursuits, for which he can boast no particular qualification." We wish no man ill, and certainly hope that no further misfortunes, or a continuance of them, will detain Mr. Parsons in the fields of literature. Possibly a wife might be a useful corrective in diverting his thoughts from foolish meanderings after sun-god philosophy. Seriously, the book is twaddle from beginning to end. THE FRIEND OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY: being Selections from the Works in Verse and Prose of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. Made by Alexander B. Grosart. Elliot Stock. 24mo., pp. xx, 255. Price 3s. 6d. BRAVE TRANSLUNARY THINGS from the Works in Servant to Queene Elizabeth We are glad to find a favourite passage on the right and poor use of knowledge from Humane Learning included in the excerpts: "Some seek knowledge merely to be known, Some but to sell, not freely to bestow; These gain and spend both time and wealth amiss, Some to build others, which is charity; But these to build themselves, who wise men be." The subject of love's despondency, and the misery engendered by change of feeling on the part of the loved one, though the lover would not for worlds have his own love undone, and scorns even to condemn for a moment the change he cannot understand, has never been better or more wholesomely expressed 2 B than by Fulke Greville in his Calica. Just a few lines are given from the long quotation aptly selected by Mr. Grosart. "Like ghosts raised out of graves, who live not, though they go; Whose walking, fear to others is, and to themselves a woe; So is my life by her whose love to me is dead, On whose worth my despair yet walks, and my desire is fed: I swallow down the bait which carries down my death; I cannot put love from my heart while life draws in my breath; My winter is within, which withereth my joy; My knowledge, seat of civil war, where friends and foes destroy; And my desires are wheels, whereon my heart is borne, With endless turning of themselves, still living to be torn. My thoughts are eagles' food, ordained to be a prey Mr. Grosart gives an interesting and spirited little sketch--but far too brief-of the life and works of rare Ben Jonson." The selections are excellent, poetry and prose being intermingled, though the former predominates. We thought we knew our Jonson fairly well, but this delightful little book introduces us to new beauties, as well as reminding us of many a favourite and familiar passage. The arrangement of subjects is alphabetical. We have but space for a single quotation, and it shall be one of prose: Nature not exhausted. "I cannot think that Nature is so spent and decayed that she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the same, like herself, and when she collects her strength is abler still. Men are decayed, and studies; but she is not." THE LETTERS OF HARGRAVE JENNINGS. Edited by Invictus. Boards, 4to., PP. 71. Bath : Robert H. Fryar. Printed for subscribers only. Persons who study the "occult" may, perhaps, find more to interest them in this book than we do. Mr. Hargrave Jennings was a gentleman who thought no small things of himself or of his mental abilities. That exalted opinion is enunciated, with reiterated emphasis, in a series of egotistical letters contained in the book before us. One quotation, from a letter dated August 10, 1887, will amuse, and probably satisfy, our readers. Writing to his anonymous correspondent, Mr. Jennings thus refers to the Antiquary: I have been invited by the proprietors of the Antiquary, in which that attack arising from envy appears, to reply to this article, commenting from (sic) my 'Rosicrucians last edition-but I firmly refused, although I could have annihilated the conceited critic in a few lines. It would not have become ME to take any notice of such a contemptible effort." This, and more that follows in the same strain as to other critics, is a fair sample of Mr. Jennings's letters. The only matter for surprise is that any person should be capable of writing of himself as that gentleman did. The book, we may add, is nicely printed in a large type, on clear paper, and the impression limited to 100 copies. It contains some fearful and wonderful things in the way of hieroglyphics. More we need scarcely say regarding it, or Mr. Hargrave Jennings. ANCIENT AND HOLY WELLS OF CORNWALL. By M. and L. Quiller Couch. Cloth, 8vo., pp. vii, 217. London: Charles J. Clark. Price 5s. It is quite unnecessary to enlarge in the pages of the Antiquary on the interest which is attached to the study of holy wells and their legends. Thanks to the labours of Mr. R. C. Hope our readers have had, for some time past, the subject constantly before them, and the interest which has been generally taken in Mr. Hope's papers on the subject, has fully attested the importance of this branch of the study of folk-lore. As time goes on, and as more of the beliefs and superstitions connected with the holy wells of Christendom are collected, and are scientifically collated and compared with those of heathen countries, we may learn much which at present can only be guessed at as possible or probable. In some such way as this, light may be thrown on many obscure points connected with the archaic superstitions and beliefs of primitive man. This is pretty generally recognised, and this it is which makes the subject one not merely of interest and fascination, but also of value in connection with the study of ethnology and folk-lore. What Mr. R. C. Hope has been doing in regard to the country at large, the authors of this book have done for Cornwall in particular. There was every inducement for them to do this, as, besides the general importance of the subject, it is in Cornwall more than anywhere else, that the holy wells retain the structural surroundings with which the piety of the Middle Ages enshrined them. These little structures are a very interesting feature of the Cornish wells, and although they also exist elsewhere, it is in Cornwall only that so large a proportion of them can still be seen. They are well illustrated in the book before us, and by the kindness of the authors we are enabled to reproduce a couple of the pictures, which give a very good idea of the kind of thing these Cornish well-shrines are. One of them, that of the Jesus Well at St. Minver, is of interest, both on account of a rather unusual dedication, and also in respect of the position of the well on a bare spot, exposed to the storms which devastate the coast, and where its position would have been hidden, and lost beneath the drifting sand, if it had not the protection afforded by the humble, square superstructure erected over it. Here, as late as 1867, we are told that a woman, who suffered from a form of erysipelas, which had refused to yield to medical treatment, obtained relief by reciting the "Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus," and bathing in the water of the well. The other illustration is that of the ancient well at Menacuddle, which seems not to possess any religious dedication. It exhibits, however, more architectural features than the humbler structure at St. Minver, and it may be taken as representative of the larger and more elaborate type of a Cornish well-shrine. The authors say: "It is a beautiful little Gothic building, |