THE ANTIQUARY.

SATURDAY, DEC. 2, 1871.

at Helperthorpe, having been formed by cutting a cross-like excavation in the solid oolite rock. "The arms of this excavated cross were in a line with the cardinal points, and were exactly of the same length, measuring from extremes, north and south, and east and west, just nineteen feet; they were six feet wide at the point of intersection, and five feet at the ends. The sides were perpendicular, cut with great exactness, and at the bottom was a perfectly flat sur

BURIED CRUCIFORM PLATFORMS IN face of oolite. Upon this level bottom was built a platform,

UNDER

YORKSHIRE.

also in the form of a Greek cross, the arms of which extended nearly the whole length of the excavation, and were 'NDER this heading, Mr. Charles Monkman, of Malton, two feet high and two feet wide." The space between the has contributed to the Yorkshire Archæological four-platform and the natural rock was filled with soil. In the nal, a very readable and instructive paper on certain buried excavation above the platform were found various remains, cruciform structures that have been discovered during the among them pieces of pottery, burnt stones, flag-slates, last four or five years. It is a subject that has hitherto charcoal, and a "Roman" horseshoe. received but little attention, but it is one that merits the serious consideration of those who investigate, from time to time, the contents of the ancient mounds of earth in this country. It is to be noted that to all outward appearance the mounds, in which the present discoveries were made, were grave-mounds or tumuli, and not until the examination of their internal structure was it apparent that, although reared intentionally, their purpose was not a sepulchral one, and hence it became necessary to re-consider the purpose of their erection.

Towards the end of the year 1866, Mr. William Lovel selected a tumulus-like mound on the Dotterill Cottage Farm Estate, at Helperthorpe, for examination, under the impression that he was about to open a barrow. The excavations were commenced at the south end, and a portion of the walling forming the cross was destroyed before its peculiar construction was noticed, but as soon as this was done great care was taken to preserve the remainder of the structure, and the other three limbs were exposed without being injured. "The walls were of rough and irregular pieces of the native chalk rock, faced inwards, so that they presented two long trough-like buildings, walled up at the ends, and intersecting at right angles, the arms thus formed, being each about 10 feet 6 inches in length. On the outside the walls had been left as rough as possible. The two troughs which, crossing each other, formed the four arms of the structure were filled with a stiff yellowish clay, rammed hard, and more clay of the same kind was placed all round the exterior of the chalk walls." These were built of blocks of chalk of various sizes, the smallest being uppermost, but the incline thus made was all on the outside, the inner face being quite perpendicular. The platform was built in the form of a Greek cross, about eighteen inches wide at the top between the walls, and about two feet high.

In the cross

The Fimber cross, exposed by Mr. J. R. Mortimer, of Driffield, has many points of resemblance to that just described, with this peculiarity, that there were two platforms in the excavation, one above the other and about five feet apart. The uppermost resembled in mode of construction that found at Helperthorpe, while the second coincided more exactly with the Swinton cross platform. A miscellaneous collection of broken articles was found both in the excavation cut in the chalk rock, and in the earth composing the mound. The length of each arm of the Fimber cross from the point of intersection was ten feet six inches.

Such is a brief account of these ancient buried structures. Mr. Monkman, of course, enters more fully into their de. scription, but the above will give a general idea of their peculiar form, and show that they were evidently planned What then was this with some special object in view. object? "Some have considered the remains I have described," says Mr. Monkman, "to be sepulchral relics, but for this hypothesis there does not appear to be any foundation; others have regarded them as having been places for religious rites, but nothing has been advanced to support this notion; and others again say that they are connected with Roman agrimensorial operations. This view is held by leading antiquaries, and I think it the only view in favour of which evidence can be adduced." Mr. Monkman then proceeds to show that the Helperthorpe, Swinton, and Fimber crosses are no less than botontini or Roman surveymarks. The researches of Mr. H. C. Coote, F.S.A. (Archæologia, Vol. XLII.) are brought to bear upon the question, and that gentleman himself remarks in a supplementary paper that "the examples in question (startling as they are) are botontini of more than ordinarily complete character," and further, that "it is impossible to estimate these discoveries too highly, for every additional proof of the extent of centuriation in this country is also an ethnological demonstration, from the necessary bearing which it has upon the Roman colonization of Britain."

Various were the relics of antiquity found in the earth composing the mound, such as pieces of soft dark pottery, fragments of Roman ware, bones of the deer, ox, dog, and swine, besides other nondescript articles. Mr. Monkman suggests that many blank barrows, that itself, however, nothing of this kind was found. have yielded no sepulchral relics to their explorers may also The other examples of these buried cruciform platforms were be botontini. It does not appear, however, that anything discovered in 1868 and 1870-the first at Swinton, near really similar to these Yorkshire buried cruciform platforms Malton, and the second near Fimber on the Yorkshire Wolds. has been discovered in other parts of the country. Many The Swinton cross was within a circular mound nearly sites have been pointed out as bearing evidence of the work seventy feet in diameter, and was uncovered by the Rev. of the agrimensor, but none show such elaborateness of James Robertson. It was of different construction to that construction as the present examples. It is much to be

hoped that further researches may lead to a confirmation of this suggested use of these buried cross-like platforms. Several plans and elevations accompany Mr. Monkman's paper which greatly tend to elucidate the subject.

K.

DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT PAINTINGS IN
DISTEMPER.

discovered, may be; but will, at the earliest possible
period, obtain a full description of the illustration in the
meantime this may clear up the mystery to those local sub-
scribers who may have searched for the parish church of
Coppard, in Essex.
F. E. S.

THE ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES IN

ARGYLESHIRE.

IN a recent number of the Antiquary a paragraph ap. peared, stating that some ancient distemper paintings had THE excavations lately carried on at Ach-na-Goul, near been "unearthed" in the parish church of Coppard, in Inverary, at the request of the Marquis of Lorne, have led Essex. It now appears that there is no such place as Cop- to some curious and interesting results. A huge cairn was pard, in Essex; but that Coppard was undoubtedly a typo-opened to the extent of 70 feet, when several chambers graphical error, and that as there have been some such formed of megalithic blocks of grantoid rock, were cleared discoveries at Copford, near Colchester, that must be the and closely inspected for incisions. One incised block of place alluded to. granite was identified as a part of one of the chambers; another of schistose rock (actynolite) was found in the immediate neighbourhood. The incisions seem to identify the structure with those near Lochgilpead, which are surdiscovered by the Rev. Mr. Mapleton, M.A. (Oxon), of rounded with incised stones, many of which have been Duntroon Castle, Argyleshire, and are similar also to those of Northumberland and Ilkely.

Having surmounted this difficulty, I will proceed. The sacred edifice in which this discovery has been made, is a simple little village church standing alone, amid its beech and lime trees, now withered and apparently dead. Apart from the busy thoroughfare of the outside world, it has possibly often been passed by unnoticed by the local traveller.

It is true it does not bear any prominent place in history -it does not boast of its learned and eloquent preachersnor does it possess any great architectural beauties; in fact, it is, as I have said, a simple village church-and it answers to the picture which the poet draws when he says:-"In dreamland once I saw a church, Among the trees it stood,

And reared its little steeple cross
Above the sweet greenwood."

And what can be a more interesting or sublime study even to the deep-read archeologist than a "simple village church." I quote the following from Wright's "History of Essex :

"The church is on the south side of Copford Hall, at a short distance. The walls are of unusual thickness, the whole building having originally been covered with an arch, some remains of which are yet to be seen, especially in the chancel, which is also distinguished by having the east end of a semicircular form. There is a nave and south aisle, which, with the chancel, are kept in very good repair through the care and munificence of successive owners of the Hall; and in 1660 it was completely repaired at the charge of the parishioners, on which occasion, as the workmen were preparing the walls for whitewashing, it was discovered that very good paintings of the Crucifixion, of St. Peter's motherin-law lying sick of a fever, of Mary Magdalen, and other subjects, had been covered over with whiting.

The doors are covered with ornamental flourishes of ironwork, and under this may yet be seen the remains of a kind of tanned skins, thicker than parchment, which are traditionally recorded to have been the skins of Danes who broke into and robbed this church."

The paragraph before alluded to, which appeared in the Antiquary for October 20th, also stated that the pictures here mentioned by Wright were probably those now found; but it is not so. It says here that they were on the "wall; however, the paintings which are now brought to light are in the chancel end, which, as we have seen above, is distinguished by being of a semicircular form. There are traces of colouring on almost every part of the walls; but only as far as the apse-which, by the bye, is a very fine specimen of its kind-has the whitewash been removed, and to all appearance there is nothing in that part to warrant the assertion that they are the paintings alluded to in Wright's "History of Essex."

Not being possessed of the material, and my own experience falling short, I am unable at present to give a full description of what the paintings, so far as they have been

The principal chamber was covered by an immense block, apparently worked in a pent-house fashion, for discharging the rain from the structure; and in it were discovered distinct evidences of cremation, charcoal, burned bones, fragments of incinerary pottery, and a vitrified mass of micaschist and trap rock similar to that of the Vitrified Forts of Scotland, giving evidence of intense heat. Here also was discovered a block of white quartz of a conical form, like others discovered by Mr. Phené, the first of them at Letcombe Castle in June last. It surmounted a kist or reliquary containing human bones, pottery, weapons, &c. Mr. Layard, we may here note, found small cones in thousands at Warka, (we think it was) in connexion with the slipper-shaped coffins of that ancient eastern city of the dead." The cone found at Ach-na-Goul is now at Inverary Castle.

Continuing the excavations southward from the covered chamber, a long passage or gallery was opened midway, in which was another chamber 9 feet long, to the east of which was a chamber 5 feet square, approached by a narrow opening from the gallery. The whole length of the gallery, and chambers (exclusive of the last), to the distance of o feet, contained remains of cremative operations, but the eastern chamber was entirely free from any such appearance. Mr. Phené thinks that as it is well known that ceremonies of a dark and pagan ritual were conducted in secret constructions of this description, both in connexion with the rights of sepulture, and also as symbolical of funereal and other ceremonials even when there was no actual burial, the indications given by the existence of the eastern chamber and the symbolical altar point strongly to this structure having been one of those places [" sorcery halls "] connected with the mysteries of Paganism. It is said to be remarkable that the saurian-shaped mound described in our last number, is separated from the structure we are now describing by a district abounding with legends of mythical monsters of so classic a kind that they seem to rival the Greek story of the garden of the Hesperides,-Loch Awe and Loch Avich each claiming its peculiar monster.

Mr. Phene's researches, then, appear to be so far corroborative of the idea that such structures had something to do with those magical rites which constitute the universal religion in pre-Jewish and pre-Christian times.

THE "HERTFORD" PICTURES.-By the liberality of Sir Richard Wallace the finest portion of the collection of pictures at Hertford House will be shortly exhibited at the South Kensington Museum.

John Newman gave, January 26, 1590, an annuity of 20s. for the benefit of the poor of the Mystery.

"Rev. J. S. TREACHER, M.A., 25, St. Giles', Oxford. "Mr. J. P. EARWAKER, Merton College, Oxford. "Mr. JAMES PARKER, The Turl, Oxford, Hon. Treasurer. "Mr. E. G. BRUTON, F.R.I.B.A., St. Michael's Cham-relief of the poor of this Company. bers, Oxford, Hon, Librarian."

William Hurste, and Francis Smallman, and Susan his wife, left property in trust, to pay 37. yearly towards the

John Yorke gave, October 18, 1612, 47. yearly to the poor

of the Mystery, arising out of the messuage or Inn known as the Nag's Head, Islington.

Roger Bellowe left, April 29, 1614, property in Wickham, Bucks, and in other places, the proceeds to be devoted to the assistance of the poor of the Company.

Ann Potter gave, May 25, 1614, 100l. upon trust, to pay 10s. yearly to four poor widows of freemen, and 40s. to be divided among the poor people in Lady Owen's Alms

houses.

Richard Rochdale gave, July 1, 1657, three messuages to the Royal Hospitals upon trust, they to pay annually 37. to this Company for the poor.

Philip Jewitt left, June 23, 1679, 2007., the Company to give 67. yearly to the poor.

THE FIRST RECORDED LICENSING ACT.

BELOW we reprint, verbatim et literatim, a copy of the first recorded Act of Parliament licensing alehouses, in the reign of Edward VI., A.D. 1552. There are allusions, it is alleged, which may be construed into evidence of an earlier enactment on this subject, but after searching all the sources accessible to us, we are unable to trace it, and no reference is made to it in the Act we produced below. The natural inference, therefore, is that this is the fons et origo of the present law. The original is printed in black-letter. The same volume of the statutes contains a curious enactment

Samuel Whitbread gave by indenture, March 26, 1794, the entitled, “ An Acte for the true makyng of Malte.”

ANNO V. & VI. EDVARDI VI.

THE XXXV. CHAPITER.

BY RECOGNISAUNCE.

Great Barford Estates, containing 270 acres, I rood, 9 perches, upon trust, the profits to be devoted to the support of one or two master brewers of the age of fifty years, who shall have carried on the trade of a master brewer within the Bills of AN ACTE FOR KEPERS OF ALEHOUSES, TO BE BOUNDE Mortality or two miles thereof for many years in a respectable manner; a pension may also be given to their widows. He also gave or sold for a slight consideration, property called the Whitecross Street Estate, upon condition, after the payment of certain trusts, that the residue be devoted to the poor afflicted of the Company, in sums of not less than 51. 5s. The selection is made by the Court of Assistants. Robert Hunt gave, October 19, 1620, 2007., the interest to be paid yearly for ever to the vicar of the parish of St. Giles Without, Cripplegate, 10l. for exercising and catechising of youths within the Church every Sabbath day.

THE DISTILLER'S COMPANY.

Forasmuch, as intollerable hurtes, and troubles to the common wealth of this realme, daily doe grow and encrease through such abuses, and disorders, as are had vsed in commo ale houses and other houses called tipling housesIt is therefore enacted by the king our souereine lord, with the assent of the lordes, and commons in this preset parlamet, and by thauctority of the same, that the Justices of Peace within euery shiere, citye, borough, towne corporate, fraunchesse, or libertye within this realme, or two of them at the least (whereof, one of the to be of the Quorum) shal haue ful power and aucthoritie, by vertue of this Acte, within euery shiere, citye, borough, towne corporate, fraunches, and liberty, where thei be Justices of Peace, to

Charters-Charles I. incorporated all persons who pro-remoue, discharge and put away commune selling of ale, and fess the trade, art, or mystery of distilling strong waters and making of vinegars into one Company, 14th Charles I., August 9, 1638. A new Charter was granted by 3rd James II., May 12, 1687. The Ordinances for their government were confirmed in 1690. The Court of Mayor and Aldermen granted them a livery October 21, 1672. All distillers were compelled to be free of this Company by Act of Common Council, July 29, 1774.

ARMS.-Azure: a fesse wavy argent, in chief the sun in splendour, encircled with a cloud, distilling drops of rain, all proper; in base a distillatory double-armed or, on a fire proper, with two worms and bolt-receivers of the second. Crest on a wreath a garb of barley, environed with a vine fructed, both proper. Supporters the dexter, the figure of a man, representing a Russian, habited in the dress of the country, all proper; the sinister an Indian, vested round the waist with feathers of various colours, wreathed about the temples with feathers as the last; in his hand a bow, at his back a quiver of arrows, all proper. Motto: "Drop as Rain, Distil as Dew."

SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.-Two new courts have recently been completed. These courts will be used for displaying that magnificent piece of architecture and architectonic sculpture, the "Portico da Gloria," from the Cathedral of Santiago, and other large objects. The new courts are each about 120 feet long, 60 feet wide, and about 90 feet high. At the height of 60 feet from the floor is a gallery.

THE END OF AN OLD HOUSE.-The Edinburgh Courant mentions that the house in High Street, Edinburgh, recently destroyed by fire, was at one time inhabited by the Abbot of Melrose, and was then known as Rosehall House. Subsequently it became the town residence of the wellknown lawyer and writer on heraldry, Sir George Mackenzie. It is said to be upwards of 350 years old.

biere, in the said commune Alehouses, and tipling houses in such towne or townes, and places, where they shall thynk mete and convenient. And that none after the first day of May next comming shal be admitted, or suffred to kepe any comune alehouse, or tipling house, but such as shal be therunto admitted, and allowed in y open sessions of the peace, or els by two Justices of peace, whereof one to be of the Quorum. And that the said Justices of the peace, or two of the (wherof the one to be of the Quorum) shal take bonde and surety, from tyme to tyme, by recognisaunce of suche as shal be admitted, and allowed hereafter to kepe any commune alehouse, or tipling house, as wel for, and against the usyng of unlawfull games, as also for the usinge and maintenaunce of good order and rule, to be hadde and used within the same, as by their discretion shal be thought necessary and conuenient or making euery whiche recognisaunce, the partie or partys y shal be so bounde, shal paie but, xii. d. And the said Justices shal certifie the same recognisaunce, at the next Quarter Sessions of the peace to be holden within the same shiere, borough, Town corporate, fraunchesse, or liberty, where such Alehouse, or tipling house shal be. The same recognisaunce there to remayne of recorde before the Justices of peace of that shiere, citie, forfeiture to the king for euery such recognaisaunce taken, borough, towne corporat, franches or libertie upon painé of and not certified iii. I. vi. s. vii. d.

And it is further enacted by thauctority aforsaid, that the Justices of peace of every shiere, citye, borough, towne, corshal be taken, shal haue power and aucthoritie by this Act, porate, fraunchesse, and libertye where such recognisaunce in their quarter Sessions of the peace, by presentment, infor mation or otherwise by their discretio, to enquire of al suche persons, as shal be admitted and allowed to kepe any Alehouse, or tipling house, and that be bounde by recognisaunce, as is aboue said, yf they or any of them haue done any act or actes whereby they or any of the haue forfeited the same recognisaunce. And the said Justices of euery shiere, and places where they be Justices, shall upon euery