rily redound to them; thereby he hoped to be more quiet and secure in the possession of his great power; due to his own personal merit.

"By birth he was of Ireland. I know no reason to deny that honour to the other Britannic Isle. The extraordinary fondness the Britons had for him, seems to evince it: the inscription of that Coin' EXPECTATE VENI,' the like. The excellent Mr. Camden observes, that Aurelius Victor calls him a Citizen of Menapia, and that the City Menapia is in Ireland, not in the Low Countries of Germany. Dr. Genebrier is of the same opinion. W. STUKELEY."

"To Mrs. Stukeley, Stamford.

"MY DEAR LOVE, London, Mar. 10, 1747-8. "The goods came safe to-day: thanks to you for your care and trouble. I received yours last post. Mr. Henson's hare I sent to Lord Chancellor : I dined there on Saturday. Your pig's face I gave to the Duchess of Montagu. I dined there on Tuesday. On Monday last I dined with Mrs. Girdler. I shewed Fanny's Letter to the Duke and Duchess of Montagu, to Mrs. Wade, cousin Stukeley, and many more; all commend it extremely. Mr, Revely comes to our coffee-house in Ormond-street at six in the evening, where we have a very fine meeting of the neighbourhood; all very complaisant to me. Sam is not pleased at my coming to Town; but old bachelors are always unaccountable. He spends most of his time at Hampstead. Dolly mends, and I keep her. Mrs. Rogers is a poor creature: you must speak to Mrs. Curtis, to help her. She is much injured: she comes down in the waggon, Dr. Milward has visited Dolly; we hope to cure her. You must get Leeming to take the Goose out of the summer-house window for the Doctor, and put in a piece of other glass. Take down the shelves in my new study window, before Noel comes. He pulls all that down. Kitchen towels you forgot: those set down in your catalogue. Mrs. Wade is very ill; a fever fallen into her leg. I am satisfied with what Fanny has done. I would have her please herself; but let no other reason be given for it, than that she was resolved not to marry yet. The weather here has been very bad. I am, my Dearest, your faithful, W. STUKELEY." "To the most renowned CHYNDONAX DRuid †.

"Paradise, Nov. 24. 1755. "If a cold had not much hurt the visual rays of Urania's eyes, she had sooner returned you her best acknowledgments for your last elegant Epistle, and the beautiful Print it contained; likewise for the sight she obtained (by your express order) of a mysterious paragraph in a Letter to Mr. Stukeley. Be so gracious to answer the following quere. Is it not your amiable Daughter that is instituted into our Society? If so, I rejoice greatly, and again intreat a repetition of her mystic name, which has escaped my memory. I likewise beg your opinion of the late terrible agitations of the Waters in Kent, Ireland, and other places. Though I am a Friend, and Sister, to the lovely and most ex* His brother-in-law; Mr. Samuel Gale. + See vol. VI. p. 506. cellent

cellent Miriam, I cannot obtain a line in answer to a Letter I sent with the Books: however, my love waits on her and respects to my Brother Chyndonax' whole Family. URANIA DRUIDESS." "Eden, Nov. 8, 1756.

"I can no longer forbear giving you the trouble of a Letter, Sir, to enquire whether you received one I dispatched to you this three weeks, with a full account of the business you commanded me to transact, and my best acknowledgments for the honour of having any trust reposed in me by the great Chyndonax. If you will favour me with a line, you will relieve the impatience of your much obliged Sister, URANIA DRUIDESS."

"Oct. 25, 1762. Mr. Smith and Mr. Duke, of Lake, near Stonehenge, visited me. Mr. Duke's father dug up one of the many barrows in Lake Field, near the Temple. They found the skeleton of an old British hero, buried near the surface, as I sometime found them. He had on an iron helmet, with a broad verge, like a barber's bason, the spear-head of iron lay on his left side, a dagger on his right. I have drawn out the helmet and spear in their true dimensions, and the comparative scale of the Oriental cubit and English foot. The dagger Mr. Duke imprudently parted with, and never could recover. The Hero had a son, who was heir to his sword, according to the old British custom, as seen in Fingal; therefore not buried with him; as was in the case of the Chateris Hero, in my possession. The helmet is like those we meet with in old sculptures of Ulysses and Diomedes. Its verge is exactly a digit in breadth, or a third part of a palm. The diameter is two palms, its depth one palm. The spear-head is 8 digits in length, half allowed to the shank, half to the pointed part. If we add to this account what I exhibited to the Society, that of our Chateris Hero, whose remains I have by me, we see the whole armoury of our Britons 3000 years ago. He of Chateris, besides his spear, had a sword and shield, the boss of iron remaining. Here was his sepulchral furniture, the urn of his wife, at his head, and a most curious glass urn of an uncommon make. This, I apprehend, contained the heart of his beloved daughter or mistress. These particulars, I likewise shewed to be consonant to the measures of the Druid cubit.

"Mr. Smith and Mr. Duke likewise informed me this year, 1763, a large tumulus in Lake Field was cut through diametrically in making a new road from Devizes to Salisbury. In the center at bottom upon the original surface were the remains of a burnt body, bones, ashes, charcoal, beads of glass. The like remains I often found formerly when digging into these barrows. This particular, I further collect, from the above account: their spear-heads of iron, as well as their swords, daggers, helmets, and shields. Now we often find among our Druid instruments called Celts, what we call from their shape and shank part, spearheads; but, being in brass, as well as the Celts, and found with them, I hold them all to be sacrificing knives. WM. STUKELEY.

ORIGINAL

ORIGINAL LETTERS of Mr. THOMAS MARTIN.

"To the Reverend John Tanner*, Lowestoft. "REV. SIR, Palgrave, July 27, 1743. "This serves to acknowledge the favour of both your last very kind Letters; and to assure you the former had been much sooner answered, but that, through a multiplicity of hurrying business occasioned by my late Brother's death, I am obliged (for some time to come at least) to lay beside the beloved Study of Antiquity, and drudge hard at my Noverint Universi, &c. However, that no stop might be put to so laborious and useful a work as the Notitia, I forthwith shewed Mr. Blomefield your first Letter, and desired he would search for all Arms of Monasteries, &c. and transmit them to you; verily believing that your learned and Rev. Brother (the late worthy Bishop of St. Asaph, and my most esteemed Friend) had in his life-time seen whatever Collections, relating to Abbeys, &c. were either in the late Mr. Le Neve's (Norroy's) hands, or my own; and I do not recollect to have lately met with any Arms belonging to Religious houses, though I have several of Abbots and Priors; but those, I think, are foreign to your purpose.-As to yours of the 16th instant, the former part is answered above. But concerning the Trinity in Heraldry, I am as much at a loss to define what Mr. Reyce meant by it, as you can be. The Emblem of the Trinity is frequently depicted upon Church windows, and carved upon the Porches, &c. as you have described it; but upon Seals it is oftener expressed by a representation of God the Father (the Antient of Days) holding our Saviour on the Cross, with the Dove descending, as in Cardinal Wolsey's Great Seal, lately engraved by our Society, and in many other places. In my Study are all the Editions of Guillim, Coate's Dictionary, Kent's Grammar, and many other Treatises of Heraldry; but in none of them can I see a Trinity mentioned. In looking into my Ipswich Collections, I find a venerable old (round) Seal of white wax or paste, affixed to a deed indented, and dated 'die Jovis prox' post festum Purific' b'te Marie, anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi quartodecimo, apud Gippewic,' &c. beginning thus: Noverint Universi per presentes, quod cum inter religiosos viros Priorem et Conventum Eccl'ie S'c'e Trinitatis de Gippewic, ex p'te unâ ; et D'num Rob'tum de Reydon, Militem, ex alterâ, erat dissencio racione cujusdam annui redditus duorum solidorum et octo denariorum,' &c. In the middle of the Seal sits our Saviour, giving the Benediction with the two fore fingers of his right hand (as formerly was the usage), hold

* Indorsed by Mr. Ives, "My Worthy and Honoured Friend Mr. Martin's Letter to the Reverend John Tanner, A. M. Vicar of Lowestoft, and Commissary of the Diocese of Norwich, upon his publishing Dr. Thomas Tanner Bishop of St. Asaph's Notitia Monastica.”

ing a book on his left knee. On each side of him are three tapers (I think) and a star above them; and on the sides the types of the Evangelists, viz. an Eagle, an Angel, a Lion, and a Bull winged; the Circumscription is thus: + SIGILLUM ECCL'E X'PI GIPWICENSIS. I have no time to draw the Seal; my time of writing this Letter being stolen from my Assize affairs. So which way to fix your Arms, Sub Judice Lis est.

"The reasons above, besides a family of ten children (all at present chiefly maintained by my pen and ink), will in some measure, I hope, excuse my neglect of corresponding (as I could wish) with my very good Friends, yourself, Mr. Willis, Mr. West, and the rest of the Antiquarian Society. I have not the honour of your Nephew's acquaintance; but am sensible, if ever he once commenced Antiquary, he can never quit so agreeable and laudable a study, in which his family in general, and his Father in particular, have been so eminent and such shining ornaments. Pray my service to him. It grieves me, when I think Providence having fixed both of us in the pleasant County of Suffolk, yet that it should be in the opposite parts of it: but what must be must be. I have often wished we could found a Cell of Antiquaries, to meet monthly or quarterly at Norwich; and by that means probably I might have the satisfaction of kissing your hand once or twice in a twelvemonth. As for my part (was it not for my family) I could be content to live almost on bread and water the remainder of my days, so I might have leisure to publish only some Fragmenta Antiquitatis, which I have amassed together, and an Appendix to Mr. Blomefield's History of Thetford, &c. "My longing is great to see the Notitia re-published, and should take it a greater honour to be any ways a furtherer of so commendable a performance, than to be dubbed a Knight in reality, as you say I am by mistake of the Printer, which I much wonder at, because he knows me very well. However, I must desire and insist that that error may be set right before the book eomes forth; and hope you will not debar the world of the late Bishop's original Preface. I am, worthy Sir, with the greatest es teem, your most obliged humble Servant, THC. MARTIN.

"P. S.-SIR, In case the copy of the Notitia should be delayed at the press, and will admit of any Addenda, &c. I will (by God's blessing) look into my study, and point out what Abbey-books, Charters, &c. are not mentioned by the Bishop (if you will please to let me know what he already has quoted to have seen here); for I believe, since his leaving these parts, there are come to my hands a large Chartulary in folio of St. Thomas's Hospital in Southwark, seven folios,being Receivers' Accounts of Mettyngham College, besides the Foundation Charter, and many others relating to that House, exclusive of a fine Chartulary of that College, which I believe he had seen, as well as Eye Register, and Flixton Foundation and other Charters. Abbey Deeds, Seals, &c. here are almost an innumerable number. I could write for ever, but must leave off. "No doubt, Sir, but you have taken notice of Thetford Priory

Arms

Arms (viz. the Arms of Bigot the Founder) as mentioned in Mr. Blomefield's History, folio 448. And the Arms of the Canons there, in his quarto Edition of Thetford, in the Addenda. page 6. (being Earl Warren's coat). In a note of Mr. Le Neve's I find this: Fountains (Yorkshire) Abbey Arms. MS. Hare, vol. II. fo. 29. Saphire, 3 Fers de Cheval Topaz.' I have Mr. Le Neve's old Notitia, with his observations throughout it, which I presume, your Brother had the perusal of, in Mr. Le Neve's life-time." "To Mr. Thomas Martin, at the Bell Inn in Holborn.

"DEAR SIR,

Doctors Commons, July 15, 1751. "I am very sorry we had not the pleasure of seeing you last Friday at the Queen's Head, where Mr. Gale, Mr. Vertue, another Gentleman, and myself, spent a very agreeable Antiquarian evening. Mr. Vertue having since wrote to me, and acquainted me with your desire of meeting of us, whenever such another shali happen, I take the liberty of troubling you with this to acquaint you, that I will endeavour very soon to fix such another evening, with the same company, of which you shall have due notice. In the mean time I shall take it as a particular favour if you would do me the pleasure to call upon me at my house at Doctors' Commons, where you will be sure to find me, being always at home. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, A. DUCAREL."

"DEAR DOCTOR DUCAREL, Palgrave, July 19, 1754. "The reception of your last, gave extraordinary comfort to me, a solitary Member of that Society, for whose flourishing condition no one can have sincerer good wishes; and for the advancement whereof no one shall contribute more freely than I will, to the utmost of my abilities. Mr. Vertue's bad state of health is unwelcome news. He is a very useful Brother, and will be greatly wanted. I wish I could hear our worthy President was much bettered in his constitution, yet we who are hearty may go before them. Therefore let us be assiduous in promoting our laudable undertakings, considering, debemur morti, nos, nostraque, and that there is no working in the grave, &c.

"When I shall have the pleasure of making one amongst you is at present uncertain; but expect it will be before, or at longest at our Anniversary Meeting. I owe Dr. Rawlinson, Mr. Mores, Mr, Booth, Mr. Ames, and others of our Fraternity, Letters of thanks for favours received. Pray, as opportunity serves, be so good as to distribute my best respects for the present, aud, as soon as may be, I'll endeavour to be out of debt.

"I am glad to hear of Doncaster Cross, and Sandal Castle being published; and hope, 'ere long, to find our Head Members will propose, and encourage, some curiosities worthy themselves, and the intent and purport of our Charter. Pray are the Arms or Device yet fixed upon for our Seal? I think Stonehenge should be the principal thing expressed; and, if a Crest, the British Oak, &c; and if Supporters, a Pict and a Druid, &c.

"I am daily going over to the late Sir Andrew Fountaine's, and then shall be more able to answer that part of your Letter