names of these distinguished worthies appear on the top of the chapel, with a vaulted roof; whilst in one of the the paintings. The furniture is of the 15th and 16th cen- chambers on the left of the entrance to the chapel is a curious old chimney-piece, bearing the cognizance of Archbishop Bourchier. turies. Running parallel with this gallery is another one of similar dimensions, which time has shaken into the picturesque. It is known as the Retainers' Gallery. As it forms the communication with the sleeping apartments of the domestics, which branch off from it, the public are not admitted to this gallery. The spacious chimney-piece, although much dilapidated, is of the finest marble, and of rare workmanship. The Ball-room is a lofty and noble apartment, with a magnificent marble chimney-piece, and the walls are hung with family portraits, chiefly whole-lengths. The Crimson Drawing-room contains the best pictures in the house, among which are nine by Sir Joshua Reynolds; and from this we pass to the Cartoon Gallery, so named from containing copies by Daniel Mytens of six of the well-known From the Brown Gallery, we pass into two bed-rooms, cartoons of Raffaelle. Here is a fine full-length portrait with their dressing-rooms adjoining, elegantly furnished, of James I., together with the identical chair in which his and hung with tapestry and paintings. These rooms are majesty sat; also a very good one of the Earl of Essex, known respectively as Lady Betty Germaine's Chamber and with a page, by Dobson. The furniture of this room is very the Spangled Bed-room. The first-named apartment is so rich, and the sconces and fire-dogs are of chased silver. called after the second wife of Sir John Germaine. It is The richest display of silver, however, is in the adjoining said to be in the same state in which it was when the room-the King's Bedroom, so called from having been house was presented by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Thomas fitted up, as it now is, for the use of James I., when he Sackville, afterwards Earl of Dorset. A piece of tapestry stayed for one night only at Knole. The furniture of this here contains portraits of Vandyke and Sir Francis Crane, room, whch is entirely of silver, is said to have cost 20,000l., and there is an oaken bedstead with somewhat singular and the bedstead, the furniture of which is of gold and silver furniture. The Spangled Bed-room is so called from the bed tissue, and embroidered and fringed with the same metals, hangings being worked with gold spangles in profusion, which alone cost 80007.; the walls are hung with tapestry, illusform a striking contrast to the black oaken floor; the fur-trating the history of Nebuchadnezzar. Passing down niture of this room was presented to Lionel Cranfield, Earl stairs we now enter the dining-room, the walls of which conof Middlesex, by James I., and among it is a curious and tain a series of portraits-upwards of sixty in number-of valuable cabinet of ebony. In the dressing-room attached literary men, contemporaries of Charles II., the sixth and witty to Lady Betty Germaine's Chamber is a portrait of Thomas Earl of Dorset. In this room, in 1645, the Court of SeSackville, first Earl of Dorset, Lord High Treasurer, and questration met, and deprived, for loyalty to his sovereign, his Countess, together with the Countess of Abergavenny; Edward, fourth Earl of Dorset, of his estate. Among the there are also portraits of the second, third, fourth, and more interesting and important of the portraits are those of fifth Earls of Dorset, and several articles of antique furni-Waller and Addison, by G. Jarvis; Cowley and Rochester, ture. In the Spangled Dressing-room, amongst other by Du Boyce; Sedley, Dryden, Locke, Hobbes, and Newpaintings, is a fine copy of Titian's Venus; two landscapes ton, by Kneller; Garrick, Dr. Johnson, and Goldsmith, by by Salvator Rosa; "Venus and Satyr," by Correggio; the Sir Joshua Reynolds; Otway, by Sir Peter Lely; Burke, "Miser," by Quintin Matsys; and three portraits by Sir by Opie; Tom Durfey, by Vandergucht; together with Peter Lely. copies by less famous hands, of Ben Jonson, Gay, Pope, Handel, Wycherley, Congreve, Rowe, Swift, Garth, Cartwright, Betterton, &c. The Billiard-room and Leicester Gallery are next entered. These rooms contain, besides a copy of Rubens' "Diana and Acteon," a large number of full-length portraits; among which is one of the Earl of Surrey, by Holbein, another of the Earl of Middlesex, above mentioned, whom Walpole speaks of as being "the citizen who came to be Lord Treasurer, and who was very near coming to be hanged," and other members of his family. Next in order comes the Venetian Bed-room, so named from having been fitted up for the ambassador, Nicolo Molino; the walls are hung with Arras tapestry, and the toilet-table and mirror-frame are of chased silver. The state bed, with its green velvet furniture, and headboard surmounted by the royal arms, is said to have been prepared for the reception of James II., who, however, never occupied it. The single portrait in this room is that of Catherine II. of Russia, in a soldier's red uniform. In the Venetian Dressing-room are several fine paintings, including the "Death of Cleopatra," by Domenichino; a landscape, by Salvator Rosa (very good); "Marquis de Champcenetz,' by Gainsborough; "Holy Family," by Tintoretto, and also a spirited little sketch of a Boar-hunt, by Rubens. "Such were the rooms in which, of yore, "The oaken wainscot richly graced With gay festoons of mimic flowers, All speak of proud and long-past hours. Whose glories song hath oft rehearsed. Of wealth's decline and pride's decay; Those things which cannot pass away." The Organ Gallery, which is next entered from the Leicester Gallery, is hung with tapestry, and contains an ancient instrument, used for divine service. This instrument In the reign of King John, the manor of Knole was held was some time ago removed into the chapel, which was by Baldwin de Bethun, Earl of Albemarle ; but after erected by Archbishop Bourchier, but has since been re- passing by marriage or otherwise to the several families of placed in its original position. In the chapel is preserved the Mareschals, Earls of Pembroke, the Bigods, Earls of an interesting piece of wood-carving; it represents the his- Norfolk, the Grandisons, the de Sayes, and the Fienneses, tory of the Crucifixion, and was presented by Mary Queen Lords Saye and Sele, it was purchased, in 1456, by Archof Scots to Thomas, first Earl of Dorset, shortly before her bishop Bourchier, who enclosed the park, rebuilt the greater execution. The chapel has a row of open seats on each portion of the house, and dying in 1486, left it to the see side, with a pulpit, reading-desk, and a communion-table, of Canterbury, when it became the principal archiepisand a pew or closet for the family of the noble owner placed copal residence. His successor, Cardinal Morton, largely at a considerable elevation. There is a fine crypt beneath | augmented the building, and was visited here by Henry VII. He died here in 1500. His successors, Archbishops Dene and Warham, seem to have preferred the neighbouring Palace of Otford, but the latter prelate resided much at Knole, and between the years 1504 and 1514 was visited by Henry VII. and Henry VIII. Cranmer, who resided some time at Knole, relinquished the estate to the king, but it was subsequently granted to the Protector Somerset, and on his decapitation, to the unfortunate John Dudley, Earl of Warwick (afterwards Duke of Northumberland), who lost his life for upholding the pretensions of his daughter-in-law, the Lady Jane Grey, to the crown of England. Queen Mary granted Knole to her kinsman, Cardinal Pole, but on his death it again reverted to the Crown, with whom it continued till Elizabeth gave it to Robert, Earl of Leicester; he, however, five years after wards, surrendered the estate to the queen, and in the following year it passed into the possession of Thomas Sackville, who was knighted, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth, by the Duke of Norfolk, 8th June, 1567, and on the same day created Lord Buckhurst, of Buckhurst, Sussex, in the peerage of Great Britain. On the death of Burleigh his lordship was raised to the post of Lord High Treasurer. His lordship enjoyed the confidence of James I., by whom he was confirmed in the post of Lord High Treasurer, and created Earl of Dorset, in 1604; and four years afterwards he died suddenly, while attending the Privy Council. His eldest son, Robert, second Earl, enjoyed the family honours but a few months, dying in February, 1609, having married Lady Margaret, daughter of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, by whom he had, with other issue, Richard, third earl, who died in 1624, leaving two daughters only, when the title devolved upon his brother Edward, fourth earl. He was installed K.G. in December, 1625. Before he attained the title, his lordship was concerned in a fatal duel at Antwerp, which is thus mentioned by Lord Clarendon :—“He | entered into a fatal quarrel upon a subject very unwarrantable with a young nobleman of Scotland, the Lord Bruce, upon which they both transported themselves into Flanders, and attended only by two chirurgeons, placed at a distance, and under an obligation not to stir but at the fall of one of them. They fought under the walls of Antwerp, where the Lord Bruce fell dead upon the place; and Sir Edward Sackville (for so he was then called), being likewise hurt, retired into the next monastery, which was at hand." His lordship married the daughter and heiress of Sir George Curzon, of Croxhall, Derbyshire, and dying in 1652, was succeeded in the title by his eldest, and only surviving son Richard, fifth earl. This nobleman married the Hon. Frances Cranfield, eldest daughter of Lionel, Earl of Middlesex, and, eventually, sole heiress of her brother Lionel, third Earl of Middlesex. His lordship died in 1677, leaving several children, and was succeeded by his eldest son Charles, sixth earl, K.G., who on succeeding in right of his mother to the estates of the Earl of Middlesex, had been created, in April, 1675, Earl of Middlesex, and Baron Cranfield, of Cranfield, Beds. He left at his decease an only son, Lionel Cranfield, His lordship was created Duke of Dorset in June, 1720, and by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of LieutenantGeneral Colyear, he had three sons and three daughters. George, the third son, assumed the additional name of Germaine, and was elevated to the peerage, in 1782, as Baron Bolebrooke and Viscount Sackville, and dying in 1785, left a large family, of whom the eldest son, Charles, subsequently succeeded his cousin in the dukedom of Dorset. Lionel, first Duke of Dorset, died in 1765, and was succeeded by his eldest son Charles, upon whose death without issue, in 1769, the title devolved upon his nephew, John Frederick who succeeded as seventh Earl of Dorset, and was a K.G. , The noble house of Sackville, or Sankeville, as the name was anciently written, have been persons of considerable power, wealth, and influence since the Conquest, the direct ancestor of the family being Sir Robert de Sankerville, Knight, third son of Herbeand de Sankville, one of the chieftains in the army of the Conqueror. third duke. His Grace was Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, and Vice-Admiral of the coasts of the said county; and in 1783 filled the office of Ambassador to the court of France. He married Arabella Diana, daughter and coheiress of Sir John Cope, Bart., and died in 1799, leaving an only son, George John Frederick, fourth duke. This nobleman was accidentally killed by a fall from his horse, in 1815, while hunting in the neighbourhood of Dublin, being at the time on a visit to his mother, who had married Charles, Earl of Whitworth, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. As his grace was unmarried, the family honours devolved upon his cousin, the Hon. Charles Sackville-Germaine, as fifth duke. He had succeeded to the viscountcy of Sackville and barony of Bolebrooke on the death of his father, in 1785. His grace died in 1845, when his honours became extinct. Most of the estate of Knole was alienated by the third Earl of Dorset, but was repurchased by Richard, fifth earl, in the reign of Charles II., and has continued in the family since that period. On the death of Charles, fifth Duke of Dorset, the property devolved upon his elder sister and coheiress, the Lady Mary, Dowager Countess of Plymouth, and widow of Earl Amherst, at whose decease, in 1864, it passed to her only sister, the Lady Elizabeth, Countess De-la-Warr. Her ladyship was created a baroness of the United Kingdom in April, 1864, under the title of Baroness Buckhurst, of Buckhurst, Sussex, with remainder to her second surviving son. Her ladyship married, in 1813, George John, fifth Earl De-la-Warr, who died in February, 1869, by whom she had a family of seven sons and three daughters; and at her decease, in January, 1870, the barony of Buckhurst, together with the estates of Knole and Buckhurst, passed, in accordance with the above remainder, to her second surviving son, the Hon. Reginald Windsor Sackville-West, who, soon after his succession to the title, obtained the royal licence to drop the name of West, retaining only the ancient surname of Sackville. It only remains to be added that the principal or state apartments of Knole are open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and being "full of highly honourable and deeply interesting associations with the past," the building is one which would well repay the trouble and expense of a journey thither from any part of the country. W. D. LOCKIT BUIK OF THE BURGESSES OF DUNDEE. (Continued from page 63.) (80) Item, furth of ye land foirsaid pertening to ye Saidis land to Sanct Johne the Euangelist his chaiplanrie zeirlie airis of James Rollok havand on ye east Sanct Margaretis fourtie twa ss fourtie sex ss viiid (81) Item furth of ye land of Patrik rattray Lyand on ye south syid of Argyllis gait Betuix ye land of George Rollokis airis on ye east and ye land of Johne Stewart on ye west pairtis To the chaiplanrie of Sancte Johne the baptist zeirlie (82) Item furth of ye land of the airis of vmqle William barrie Lyand on ye north syid of ye mercat gaitt Betuix ye Thomas Chaiplanrie on ye west pairtis to ye land of Thomas man on ye east and ye land of Sanct threttie sex ss (83) Item furth of ye said Thomas land of Thomas Mannis land foirsaid havand on ye east the land of ye airis of vmqle Andro Barrie to the chaiplanrie of Sanct George zeirlie and furth of ye samy land to ye Ruid chaiplanrie zeirlie zeirlie Sewine lib ten ss ten ss (84) Item furth of ye land of ye airis of vmqle James Hay Lyand on ye north syid of ye mcat gaitt Betuix ye land of ye saidis airis of Andro Barrie on ye east and ye land of ye said Thomas man on ye west pairtis to ye Ruid Chaiplanrie zeirlie fourtie ss Suma huins pag: is xxxiiii lib i ss viid (85) Item furt of ye tenement pertening to ye airis of vmqle Johne fferiare and William Ker Lyand on ye nort syid of ye twelf ss ON SOME UNDESCRIBED MEDIÆVAL ANTIQUITIES. (87) Item furth of ye land of Dauid Robertsoun Lyand on the north syid of ye flesche hous and ye north end of ye closs yat ye castill burn cumis throch to ye choristaris zeirlie IN the Guildhall at Faversham are some antiquities of much interest, but I believe no account of them has ever (88) Item furth of Andro Fothringhame's airis landis been published. They comprise the following articles :lyand in ye closs foirsaid on ye east syid of ye zett yairof 1. A large and elaborately carved oaken chimney ornahavand on ye east the land sumptyme pertening to Robert 2. Five iron helmets. 3. A small cannon. 4. A Qhite now to Dauid Robertsoun mariner to ye choristaris zeirlie threttene ss iiid sextene ss vid fourtie ss (89) Item furth of ye land of ye airis of vmqle William Caddell lyand on ye east syid of ye Castell burn Betuix the Murray gaitt on ye north and the land of Richard Kilgo on ye south pairtis to the choristaris zeirlie (90) Item furth of ye said Dauid Robertsoun mariner his land foirsaid havand on ye cast ye land of Dauid Ogilvies aisis to ye Hospitall zeirlie Quhilk annualrent wes bocht be vmqle Tibbit Barrie fra andro Barrie and James Barrie his sone and furth of ye samy land to the chaiplanrie of Sanct Androw zeirlie Threttene ss iiiid (91) Item furth of ye land of William Walker sumtyme pertening to Thomas Logy Lyand on ye north syid of ye murray gaitt Betuix ye land of Andro Robertsoun on ye east and ye land of ye said Dauid Ogilvies airis on ye west pairtis to ye Hospitall zeirlie Sextene ss viiid zeirlie and furth of ye samy land to Sanct Katharinis chaiplanrie fyve ss (92) Item furth of ye land of Alex Richardsoun and Janet Saidler his spous Lyand on ye south syid of ye murray gaitt Betuix ye land of James Andersonis on ye east and ye land of Robert barrie on ye west pairtis To oure Ladie Chappell in ye Kowgaitt zeirlie and furth of ye samy land ane vther annuelrent bocht be James Forrester to ye Hospitall zeirlie Twelf ss fourtie ss (93) Item furth of ye land of James browne Lyand on ye south syid of ye Murray gaitt Betuix ye land of William Clepen on ye west and ye Land of Robert Gibsonn on ye east pairtis to ye Choristaris zeirlie Twentie ss (94) Item furth of ye land of Robert Smith Lyand on ye south syid of ye Murray gaitt Betuix ye land of ye said Robert gibsoun on ye west and ye land of ye airis of vmqle Alex Smith on ye east pairtis to ye choristaris zeirlie Ellewine ss iiid (95) Item furth of ye land of Thomas Buchan Lyand on ye Sout syid of ye murray gaittt to zeirlie XV ss Suma huius pag: xii lib v ss id (96) Item furth of ye said Alex Smith his airis land foirsaid haiffand on ye east ye horss wynd to Sanct Katharinis Chaplanrie zeirlie fyvetene ss (97) Item furth of ye land pertening to Thomas Patersoun alias Sandie & Alex zoung maissoun quhilk pertenit sumtyme to vmqle Alex Piggatt Lyand on ye north syid of ye murray gaitt Betuix ye land of James ferriare and James Lowell on ye west and ye land of James Roch his airis on ye east pairtis, zeirlic, to or Ladie chapell in ye Kowgaitt twentie ane ss iiiid and furth of ye samy land to ye gray freiris zeirlie fyve ss iiid (98) Item furth of ye land of William Mathow Sumtyme pertening to vmqle William Merschel Lyand at ye head of ment. large iron key. 1. The large oaken carving hangs in the large hall, and was originally over the fire-place of an ancient house in Market-street, where formerly resided one Henry Hatch, to the company of Merchant Adventurers. Mr. Hatch, for who was a successful burgess in Faversham, and belonged whom the carving was no doubt made, died in 1533, and I think the date of the work is circ. 1520. The ornament is oblong, divided into twelve compartments; the upper row consists of six subjects, and the lower row is made up of six medallions containing some very well carved heads. (1.) Three demi-lions joined with three demi-ships, with a The following is an account of the upper row of carvings: crown over all. This may be either the arms of the cinque ports, or the arms of Sandwich, Hatch's native place. (2.) the Dragon, and something over it I am not clear aboutA pomegranate crowned. (3.) Legend of St. George and possibly it is intended for St. Anthony and his pig. (4.) The monogram of Henry Hatch, similar to one in brass on A Tudor rose crowned. The following is a description of his tomb. (5.) Arms of King Henry VIII. crowned. (6.) No. 3 and No. 5; all are in general appearance the same as the medallions:-(1.) Medea is represented very much like Katherine of Arragon is usually drawn. Beneath is cut Henry VIII., and underneath "Jason." (3.) A head 'Medee." (2.) A well cut head with a helmet on, temp. which might easily be mistaken for Queen Katherine of Arragon, with "Ellenne " under. (4.) A man's head, with the cloth hat worn in the reign of Henry VIII., very similar to that worn by Sir Thomas More in Holbein's portrait of him, and underneath "Paris." (5.) A female head with "Ivdic" under. (6.) A man's head crowned, with spikes in the crown, and "Oloferne" under it. The pairs of heads associated in either biblical or classic history are facing each other. All the other objects enumerated in the beginning of this paper, are hanging together on the wall of the Council Chamber. 2. The five iron helmets are of the early part of the 16th century, and appear to be all that is left of the armour formerly belonging to the corporation. The following entry in the records of Faversham probably refers to the five helmets-" Michas, 1523, to Michas, 1524. Harnassing 5 men sent out of the town to the king, 3. 11s. 9d." I find the town of Faversham assessed to find five men-at-arms as carly as 11 Edw. III. I believe very little is known of the history of these helmets beyond the fact that they were found many years ago in a loft at the back of a house in the market-place. 3. The cannon is a curious specimen of ancient gunnery. It has a lining of what I suppose is steel, enclosed in thick wrought iron. The lining projects a few inches. At the sides are two large iron rings for suspending this odd piece of ordnance. An iron cannon ball is laid on it. I can give no probable date, as I am totally una cquainted with the study of ancient gunnery. Among my collection of MSS. is the following note written to me by the late Mr. Gibbs, the well known antiquary of Faversham, relating to the foregoing:- 4. A large iron key, nine inches in length, which, accord - | itself evidence of this, but the hieroglyphic texts, the remains ing to tradition, belonged to the Abbey. It is very likely of the royal cartouches, the certain existence of a usurping to be the key of the court gate of the Abbey, as the cor- dynasty which existed for some time pari-passu with the poration had some interest in a piece of land just within legitimate successors of Ramesis II. and his son Menephta, the gate. all prove that the bold enterprise of Moses, which a few years earlier or a few years later would have been an act of madness, surprised the Egyptians in the midst of their intestine quarrels so favourable to the success of the oppressed people. M. Maspero has contributed other remarkable additions to Egyptian lore : when passing for his doctor's degree before the heads of the University of Paris at the Sorbonne, his thesis presented a mass of epistolary correspondence drawn from the ancient Egyptian records and monuments, which he sustained before that critical audience for six or seven hours, finally obtaining his degree not only by a unanimous vote, but with brilliant honours. Another small publication of the young, but already famous Egyptologist, gives an account of the trial and condemnation of a number of men in the Pharaohs for the high crime of desecrating a temple. The College of France is to be congratulated in numbering such an accomplished scholar and professor in "The piece of carved work was found in the house of Mr. Chas. Smith, over a fire-place, at the time of making some improvements; it was covered up then, and supposed to have been formerly brought from the Abbey, being remains similar to some found in other parts of the town. The iron helmets and gun were given by Mr. Giraud, they had been lying in an old loft in a house he lived at, now occupied by Mr. S. Higham. I do not think he knew their origin. The key was supposed to be from the Abbey." G. B. EGYPTIAN RECORDS, THE EXODUS, &c.-Eager as the learned world is to wrench from the monuments of the Pharaohs the secrets of past ages, the number of able Egyptologists is necessary small; few young men have either the determination or the means to devote themselves to a study which, generally speaking, brings little grist to the mill, and only results in barren honours attained when | life has lost its prime relish. Our neighbours, the French, have of late years devoted much attention to ancient lore, but the savans amongst them who can translate a papyrus with any success may be counted on the fingers of one hand. Under these circumstances, the death of M. le Comte de Rougé, who filled the chair of Egyptology in the College of France, is a real loss; but when work has to be done, the man generally appears, and just at the moment when the remains of the learned professor are laid in the tomb, his assistant in the chair, M. Maspero, has taken the learned world by surprise, and already marked himself out for the vacant professorship. This gentleman, formerly a pupil of the Ecole Normale, was selected some few years since by the Government to produce a French translation of the famous work of Champollion, which is progressing under his hand. His appointment as assistant professor (repetiteur) in the new Ecole pratique des hautes études has, however, brought him into great prominence; his teaching has already formed several young Egyptian scholars of great promise, and his efforts in deciphering papyri have been crowned with remarkable success. One of his recent works was a paper read by him before the Academy of Inscriptions, which touches on a subject which has a peculiar attraction for Englishmen-the Hebrew exodus. | M. Maspero says it would be difficult to account for the success of the flight of the Jews, which took place at the moment when the Egyptian power seemed to be at its height, between the reigns of the great Sesostris (Ramesis II.), and that of Ramesis III. The monuments of the Pharaohs, notwithstanding their reticences and the blanks which the hands of time and man have created in these stone pages, did not inform us clearly that after the death of Sesostris, Menephta, the thirteenth of his sons who succeeded him on the throne, had a sharp contest for it. Numerous pretenders arose, and the country which had formerly overrun Asia in triumph, was now so weakened and distracted that the Delta was invaded by a league of Libyans, Sicules, Sardinians, and Achéens. A decisive battle which occurred near Memphis saved Egypt, which was in the greatest danger, for the government of the Ptolemies depended almost entirely on the personal character of the sovereign, so that when the throne was in trouble all Egypt languished; the fruits of former conquests were lost; the stream of riches in the form of tribute was dried up; the colossus at once dwindled to a frail and puny body. There is no doubt that at the time of the exodus Egypt was suffering under one of those interior crises which rendered it powerless. The invasion referred to above is its ranks. R. N. THE OLDEST CHURCH IN ENGLAND.-One of the most amusing things to read of is the large number of churches claimed by some one or other to be each in its way the oldest church in England. And not in books alone is this to be noted; for, as well as hearing people who come from some remote part say their parish church ranks the highest in antiquity, I have seen more than one photogram in shop windows in London, taken from some tumble-down place, claiming the distinction. One of the photograms is actually from an old wooden barn-like structure, which could not possibly be very old, for I should say a wooden church erected at the Norman period would rot wholly away, as well as three or four others to replace it from that time till now. In Kent, the claim is laid to two or three I need not mention; but that of St. Martin's, Canterbury, is so gene. rally believed to be the veritable one, that it is heresy almost to doubt it; yet that is mainly an “ Early-English" building, and centuries later than scores of other churches. There is no doubt that St. Martin's is so persistently spoken of as being the most ancient church in England, on account of St. Augustine using a building which stood on the site of the present church for divine service when he first arrived in England. G. B. Baths sur GLOUCESTERSHIRE RELICS.-At Witcombe, near Chel tenham, is a Roman villa, open to inspection, discovered A.D. 1818. The pavement is of mosaic work, and ornamented. The contents of the villa were removed to the British Museum; they consisted of various articles of furniture, found in a room 19 ft. by 13 ft., the walls of which remained perfect to the height of 6 ft. A steelyard, with its weights; iron; ploughshare; flint hatchet; iron axe, used to slay beasts for sacrifice; and a variety of building tools. rounded the edifice. Fragments of columns, white marble, coins, &c., were also discovered here. At Cleeve, and four miles from Cheltenham, is a Saxon and Norman church, also an ancient parsonage, where the Bishops of Worcester formerly resided. The church contains the effigy of a Crusader, and two figures, male and female, names not known, supposed to belong to the De La Bere family, and apparently of the time of Queen Elizabeth. Near to Cheltenham is Southam, where the De La Beres resided, one of whom rescued the Black Prince, at the battle of Cressy. The house is ancient; it contains an old hall, pictures, tapestry, and an oak bedstead, &c., of the time of Oliver Cromwell. This house is near Prestbury-" The Priest's Town." In the village of Swindon is an ancient church, with an octagonal unique Norman tower. At Shurdington, in this vicinity, Roman relics have been discovered-namely, a jar and numerous coins, together with a Danish coffin, of the time of Ethelred II. At Leckhampton, near Chel tenham, in the Manor Court House, is an entrance-hall of Leicestershire, pp. 230, 257, 305, &c.), and other Leicesterthe date of Henry VII.; and in the church is the tomb of shire historians. Can any reader of the Antiquary give me a Crusader. At Painswick is a British camp; and at Bod- information about this painter, or tell me where such may dington, a Danish entrenchment. At Whittington, was a be found? Roman station. Queries. CHR. COOKE. ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.-At Eaton, in Norfolk, some sixteen years ago, it was customary for the school-children of the village to go " valentining on the 14th February.* The local term, "valentining," implied the custom of singing appropriate ditties, &c., before the houses of the well-to-do residents in and about the neighbourhood; and the persons thus honoured were expected to give something tangible in return. Hard-hearted must have been the one who could withstand the melting voices of the little innocent pleaders. Can any of your correspondents inform me whether this custom is (or was) prevalent in other districts? If so, could they furnish your pages with the rhymes sung on the occasion? J. PERRY. IN an unpublished letter of Dr. Samuel Johnson, of the date Aug. 15, 1772, allusion is made to the failure of one Fordice, of London, the result of which was that distrust and timidity were diffused through the whole commercial system. Can any of your readers give me any information respecting this circumstance? J. S. DOXEY. ST. MUNGO. I shall be glad if you, or any of your readers, can tell me anything concerning the history of the above-named saint. T. R. MOORE. DEVONSHIRE CUSTOMS.-I remember reading, some years ago, of a curious custom being observed, on the eve of the Epiphany, by the farmers and their labourers in the south of Devonshire. As near as my memory serves me, the ceremony alluded to consisted in the men repairing to the orchard, where, encircling one of the most fruitful trees, they drank the following toast three times : MINSTER CHURCH, KENT.-In Mr. John Timbs's very interesting work on the "Abbeys and Castles of England," under the heading of "A Legend of Minster Abbey' which, by the way, is followed by an account of an abbey founded some centuries ago at Minster, in the Isle of Thanet-there is a long account of a tomb of Sir Richard de Shurland. On a visit to that church lately, I failed to discover any trace of such a tomb, can any of your readers enlighten me on the subject? RAMBLER, ROMPU.-Can any of your heraldic readers inform me, through your columns, what is the meaning of the above term? It is, I believe, not very commonly given in heraldry. T. R. BOULTBEE.-I am anxious to obtain some information respecting Boultbee, of Loughborough, a painter of the last century, several times mentioned by Throsby (Views in *If this day fell on Sunday, the next day, Monday, was com memorated. F. FORFARSHIRE BALLAD.-The following ballad-fragment seems to refer to some proprietor of Kinblethmont, an estate near Arbroth, now for long possessed by Carnegie, Spynie, and Boysack. I am not aware of the historical circumstance here commemorated. "Kinblethmont's woods are bonny woods, I met him late yestreen. "He vows to tak me to his towers, He vows he lo'es me best o' a'; An' ready was the lady Jean For to rise and let him in. "O welcome, welcome, gude lord William, He steppit ance, and in his arms And aye he looked the look o' love that wins, Then sune upon his milk white steed And they are on to He's ta'en her gently by the hand, An' there aneath the siller birks He's kissed her at his will. When her proud father he heard o' this, Her father sought him to slay. This is all I have of it. I must say, too, that from certain turns of expression in it I am inclined to doubt its being a genuine relic of the past. But I should like much to know if any of your correspondents have heard the ballad, or know anything of the circumstances related? W. L. F. ARMS OF THE ISLE OF MAN.-Can any of your readers tell me what the singular charge in the arms of the Isle of Man is supposed to denote? The same coat-namely, Gules, three legs conjoined in the fess point or-I find is quartered by the Duke of Athole in his armorial bearings. R. JOHNSON. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TRADESMEN'S TOKENS.Having a few uncertain and unpublished tokens of the |
