French pictorial art towards the close of the sixteenth the purpose of securing the unfortunate heretics confined in century, and are surrounded by a border of daisies, and the wild strawberry gracefully interwoven among conventional foliage and scroll work. Of Italian art, of the seventeenth century, there are two examples. One is known as a MS. called " Jura et Privilegia clero Anglicano adjudicata," compiled and written at the express command of Archbishop Laud, by William Reyley, Blewmantle, in the year 1637. It consists of transcripts of various records, relating to the rights and privileges of the English clergy, extracted from the Rolls of Parliament, between 20 Edward I. and 14 Edward IV. (inclusive). Of this work, Archbishop Laud thus writes, in his diary (1637): -"A book in vellum, fair written, containing the records which are in the Tower, I got done at my own charge, and have left it in my study at Lambeth for posterity." The frontispiece contains the only artistic embellishment, and represents an architectural elevation, supported on four pillars. There are figures represented, and subscribed, Antiquity," "Truth," "Religion," and "Piety.' At the base are five coloured shields of arms, namely: Oxford, Cambridge, and those of Archbishop Laud, as Bishop successively of Bath and Wells, London, and St. David's. This painting is a beautiful example of Renaissance art, and probably by the hand of an Italian artist. The draperies and position of the figures are remarkably good, and the colouring soft and harmonious. Of Persian art, there are two fine copies of the Koran, illuminated with paintings and oriental enamel. It is said to have been written by the pen of the Sultan Allavudeen Siljuky, about 400 years ago, and descended to these times in the line of Emperors. It was found in the library of Tippoo Saib, at Seringapatam, on the capture of that place by the British armies. Its presentation by the college of Fort William, Bengal, by permission of Marquis Wellesley, Governor-General of India, to Archbishop Manners-Sutton, in 1805, offers interesting data. The text, written in Arabic, is enclosed by decorative borders. Blue, white, and gold are the prevailing colours, and the commencement has several pages of illumination only, of dazzling brightness. The copy, which is in the original Oriental binding, is unusually fine, and in excellent preservation. With an apology for the necessarily brief character of his notes of the interesting collection of books and manuscripts brought under the notice of the visitors, Mr. Kershaw concluded his very able address. Mr. Kershaw afterwards conducted the company over the most interesting portion of the palace. The hall in which the company were assembled is a lofty structure of brick, with stone quoins and dressings. It is 93 feet in length, 38 in width, and 50 in height. The roof is composed principally of oak, elaborately carved, and has in the centre a lofty and elegant lantern. The interior is lighted, in addition to the lantern, by ranges of high windows on either side, in some of which are heraldic devices in stained glass. From the hall, or library, the company passed upstairs to the Guard-room. The walls of this room are hung with halflength portraits of many of the Archbishops, the most interesting of which, perhaps, are Laud, Cardinal Pole, Chicheley, Warham, and Arundel. The gallery leading to the chapel, which was next visited, contains numerous portraits of ecclesiastical dignitaries, a small portrait of Martin Luther on panel, and also a splendid engraving of Old London. Descending the stairs at the end of this gallery, the vestibule of the chapel is entered. This is sometimes called the post room, probably from the fact of the ceiling being supported in the centre by a stout pillar. It is on record that the builder of this tower, Archbishop Chicheley, "found during his time the impossibility of punishing all heretics with death, therefore whipping and other severe and degrading punishments were consequently resorted to." This so-called post room has been by some considered as expressly set apart for that purpose; the pillar serving for the room above, while undergoing the degrading punishment of the lash. Having viewed the interior of the chapel, the visitors ascended the Lollard's Tower, immediately adjoining, for the purpose of inspecting the dismal chamber which served as the prison for the unfortunate heretics who suffered here in the times of Arundel and Chicheley. This tower was built in 1435. The staircase is 88 feet high, and from the battlements some very fine views are obtained. We have only space to add, in conclusion, that the library of Lambeth Palace is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and that the project of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts holding occasional meetings at some one building famous in art or history, cannot fail to be of great value to the members. estate. RAGLAN CASTLE.-With reference to the descent of the estate of Raglan noticed in our account of Raglan Castle (see p. 133, ante), Mr. C. Octavius Morgan writes :-"The descent of the Castle is given as it is usually met with in most books, but which is altogether erroneous. That account is found in 'Dugdale,' and seems to have been copied into all subsequent works, but it is incorrect. In order, therefore, to set the matter right, I beg to send you an extract from the MSS. of the late Thomas Wakeman, Esq., a very learned and painstaking antiquary of the county of Monmouth, who had most carefully investigated the matter, and examined all documents connected with it :- The often repeated assertion that the Herberts acquired the estate of Raglan by the marriage of the father of Sir William ap Thomas with the heiress of Sir John Morley is toNo such person as Sir John Morley ever tally erroneous. possessed this manor, nor any other in the county of Monmouth, that I can find. Who Sir John Morley was, whence known. He was probably some retainer of the Beauchamps, he came, or whom he married, appears to be totally unwho were then lords of Abergavenny; and either by grant from them or by marriage may have obtained some little The marriage of his daughter Maud with Thomas ap-Gwilym, father of Sir William ap Thomas, has always Thomas ap-Gwilym was been prominently put forward. not a knight; and Maud could hardly have been heir or coheiress to her father, who had a son Gwilym, and was father to a Philip.' The descent of Raglan was as follows:The family of Bluet were lords of Raglan through seven generations in the direct male line from Sir Walter Bluet, the first subinfeuor under Strongbow, in the reign of Henry II. John Bluet, the seventh in descent from Sir Walter, left an only daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of Bartholomew Pychard or Pycat, who in right of his wife had Raglan. Both were living in 1369, and had only one son, John Pychard, who died without issue, and the estate descended to Elizabeth, the only daughter of Sir John Bluet of Daglinworth, in Gloucestershire, as second cousin and heirat-law. This lady was then wife of Sir James Berkeley, to whom Henry IV. confirmed the manor by patent. Sir James Berkeley died in 1405, and his widow afterwards married Sir William ap Thomas, the ancestor of the Herberts. He did not, however, take Raglan in her right, but purchased it of her eldest son James, Lord Berkeley; and the original conveyance deed is still among the muniments of the Duke of Beaufort, at Badminton." HISTORICAL IMPOSITIONS UNMASKED.-The following paragraph appears in the Mirror:-" The story of Canute commanding the waves to roll back rests on the authority of Henry of Huntingdon, who wrote about a hundred years after the death of the Danish monarch. Hume treats the popular legend of Fair Rosamond as fabulous. According to Lingard, instead of being poisoned by Queen Eleanor, she retired to the convent of Godstow, and, dying in the odour of sanctity, was buried with such marks of veneration by the nuns as to provoke a rebuke from their diocesan, 'Ruin seize thee, ruthless king; : cidedly to the effect that the principal and earlier portion of May there not have been two monks bearing the name of Caudidus? Two supposed strong proofs of his own view given by Dean Patrick are that Leland had read Hugo's work ; and that Leland's collections concerning this monastory (Peterborough) "are word for word the same with the account of it in Swapham.' I do not see how these facts, It is glaringly improbable, and rests on no valid testimony if they be facts, prove that Hugo Caudidus is the author of 'Swapham.' of any sort. Miss Aikin was, we believe, the first to deMr. Se den asserts that the history alluded to was written molish the credibility of the celebrated story that Cromwell, in the reign of Henry III., or thereabouts. Dean Patrick, Hampden, and Arthur Hazelrig, despairing of the liberties of their country, had actually embarked for New England in on the other hand, contends that he who wrote the greatest 1638, when they were stopped by an Order in Council. and best part of it lived in the reign of Henry I., King Vossius again says that Hugo The incident is not mentioned by the best authorities, in-flourished in the latter end of the reign of King John. Stephen, and his successor. cluding Clarendon; and there is no direct proof that either Mr. Paley, in his remarks on the Architecture of the of the three belonged to the expedition, which, after a brief delay, was permitted to proceed with the entire freight of Peterborough Cathedral, not only has no faith in Swapham, pilgrims. Froissart relates in touching detail the but is most illogical. He observes, "Mr. Gunton's elaborate patriotic self-devotion of Eustache de St. Pierre and his five history seems the basis of them all; and this, in great measure, companions, who, he says, delivered up the keys of Calais taken from a document of rather a questionable authority, the Book of Swapham,' which is still preserved in the archives to Edward III., bareheaded, with halters round their necks, of the cathedral, and the writing of which is not of earlier and would have been hanged forthwith but for the inter- date than the latter end of the fourteenth century, though vention of the queen. The story had been already doubted by Hume on the strength of another contemporary narrative, the compilers of it lived in the twelfth and thirteenth." in which the king's generosity and humanity to the inhab. How could the compilers of a book, not written earlier than itants are extolled; when, in 1835, it was named as the the latter end of the fourteenth century, have lived in the subject of a prize essay by an antiquarian society in the twelfth and thirteenth? He refers to this book of "Swapnorth of France, and the prize was decreed to M. Clovis ham "when he uses the expression, "the compilers of it."" I should like to see the matter discussed by some of your Bolard, a Calais man, who took part against St. Pierre. able correspondents. The controversy was revived in 1854, in the Siècle, by a writer who referred to documents in the Tower as establish I have seen the MS. volume, and it is certainly worth It is the only one of any consequence that ing that St. Pierre had been in connivance with the be- remains to the cathedral, and the manner of its preservation looking at. siegers, and was actually rewarded with a pension by from the fury of Cromwell's soldiers is thus related by Dean Edward. The adoption of the garter for the name and Patrick: It was happily redeemed from the fire by the symbol of the most distinguished order of knighthood now then chaunter of the church, Mr. Humfry Austin, who, existing is still involved in doubt. The incident to which it knowing the great value of it, first hid it (in February, 1642) is popularly attributed was first mentioned by Polydore under a seat in the quire; and when it was found by a soulVirgil, who wrote nearly two hundred years after its alleged dier on the 22 April, 1643 (when all the seats there were occurrence."-Hayward's Biographical and Critical Essays. pulled down) rescued it again, by the offer of ten shillings From the same source is this extract :-" Rabelais has co- for that old Latine Bible, as he called it; after which he preoperated with Shakespeare in extending the belief that tended to enquire. The name of the Bible, by the help of the Clarence was drowned in a butt of malmsey at his own ten shillings, preserved this pretious treasure from the flames, special instance and request; and, in a deservedly popular whither it was going: as Mr. Austin hath left upon record compilation, the precise manner of immersion is brought in the beginning of the book, with a copy of the souldier's vividly before the mind's eye of the rising generation by a acknowledgment, that he had given him satisfaction for it, clever woodcut. Mr. Bayley, in his History of the in these words, I pray let this Scripture Book alone, for Tower,' can suggest no better foundation for the story than he hath paid me for it, and therefore I would desire you to the well-known fondness of Clarence for malmsey. Whoever,' says Walpole, in his Historic Doubts,' can believe let it alone. By me Henry Towclyffe Souldier under Captain Cromwell Colonel Cromwell's Son; therefore I pray let it that a butt of wine was the engine of his death, may believe alone.' that Richard III. helped him into it, and kept him down till he was suffocated." Queries. SWAPHAM. By whom was the book entitled " Swapham" written? If not by Swapham himself, why was it named after him. Dean Patrick, in his Preface to Gunton's "History of the Church of Peterborough," published 1686, expresses himself de H. S. PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.-I shall be obliged for any authentic information respecting the painted ceiling which covers the middle of the building of Peterborough Cathedral. Gunton, certainly a great authority, is of opinion that it was the workmanship of Abbot Benedict, appointed in 1177; but Gunton gives no reason for entertaining the opinion, and I am not aware that his view is supported by Britton, another great authority. A friend of mine, who has devoted some time to ecclesiology, gives it as his decided opinion that the west front of Peterborough Cathedral was erected during the latter part of the thirteenth century. I can find no authority for such a statement. I have failed to trace the period of its erection, or the name of the architect. Would some gentleman be so kind as to enlighten me on the subject? C. ARNOLD. ROSLIN CASTLE.-Is anything known of the origin of Roslin Castle? I believe it existed in the thirteenth, and was burnt down in the sixteenth century. The names of the first owners seem to be involved in obscurity. Perhaps some Scottish Antiquary might be in a position to reply to my query. T. C. K. Bel and the DRAGON.-The worship of Bel, Baal, or Baalim appears to have extended over Syria, Mesopotamia, and Chaldea. In the Nineveh gallery at the British Museum there is a representation of Bel and the Dragon. The body of the dragon appears covered with feathers; its fore feet are those of a lion, and its hind feet are the talons of an eagle; it has a bird's tail, and its wings are spread out. Bel has the sacred three-horned cap, a sword suspended from his shoulders, and in each hand a double trident, one of which he is in the act of hurling at the Dragon, who is turning on him with his horrible jaws open. I have often wondered if this is a heathen rendering of the combat between St. Michael and Satan, and, further, if the Chaldean mythology in this case suggested the legend of St. George and the Dragon ? G. B. HOW WERE FLINTS CUT IN SQUARES?-I can find no mention of the method of squaring flints in medieval buildings in any glossary of architecture; in fact, oddly enough, such buildings are not even mentioned. I am only aware of of the following cases: the Bridewell at Norwich, the portal of St. John's Abbey at Colchester, and a gateway at Whitehall, now pulled down; a hospital for lepers at Boughton under-Blean, built temp. Rich. II., and a mass of this work behind the cemetery gate of St. Augustine's Monastery, Canterbury. Are there other buildings? The peculiarity of this work is that the flints have smooth surfaces, and are cut quite square. How was this done? ВЕТА. KENTISH MEN AND MEN OF KENT.-What authority is there for making a distinction between Kentish men and men of Kent? The former are said to be those born west of the Medway and the latter to the east of it. The law of gavelkind applies to the whole of the county, except where lands have been disgaveled by an Act of Parliament; yet that there is some distinction between east and west Kent is undoubted, for hops grown in east Kent have a horse rampant with "Invicta" stamped on the pocket containing them, while that is not permitted to west Kent growers. This is most puzzling to me, for "Invicta I understand to be the motto of the whole county and not simply a part of it. I suppose that has reference to the men of Kent carrying their point with William the Conqueror in keeping to the common law of England in the tenure of land, while the rest of the country accepted a new state of things. But here is another difficulty, for as a matter of fact gavelkind is not peculiar to Kent. Neither the county histories nor archæological friends throw any light on the subject, and I will thank anyone for an explanation. G. B. MEMOIR OF SIR JAMES MELVIL.-I should be glad to learn where I can obtain a copy of the memoir of Sir James Melvil, who is said to have been a faithful servant of Mary Queen of Scots. T. HOLLINS. BUTLER THE POET.-Dr. Johnson observes, with respect to Butler, the author of "Hudibras," that "the mode and place of his education are unknown; the events of his life are variously related, and all that can be told with certainty is that he was poor." But how could he have been poor when it is known he married a lady of good fortune ? and surely some facts must be known respecting the education of one so celebrated and so highly gifted. Some of his biographers assert that he was some years at college, but at which college they do not say. Can you enlighten your readers on this subject? X. LUCILIO VANINI.-I shall be obliged for some account of Lucilio Vanini, who was burnt in 1628 or 1629, charged, I think, with atheism. B. A. BURGH CASTLE, SUFFOLK.-Can you give me any par ticulars of Burgh Castle, in Suffolk? I am led to think it is one of the oldest Roman ruins we have, and that it was erected during the first or second century. H. J. R. S. BLOWING A BOAT OVER LONDON-BRIDGE.-In a pamphlet in the British Museum, printed in 1647, there is an offer by one Captain John Bullmer to". blowe a boate, with a man or boy in her, over the London Bridge in safety." Was the experiment ever tried? The vessel was to have attached to it an engine floating, and Bullmer assures us that with its help the vessel would be "blowne so high with a breath of man as that the same shall passe and be delivered over London Bridge, together with the same man or boy in Ior aboarde her, and floate againe in the said river Thames, on the other side of the bridge, in safety." R. L. HILLARD. PRESENTATION OF WINE TO THE LORD MAYOR.-I find the following in the Gentleman's Magazine, of December, 1800:-"On the annual aquatic procession of the Lord Mayor of London to Westminster, the barge of the Company of Stationers, which is usually the first in the show, proceeds received a present of sixteen bottles of the archbishop's to Lambeth Palace, where from time immemorial they have prime wine. This custom originated at the beginning of the see, a near relation of his, who happened to be master the present century. When Archbishop Tenison enjoyed of that company, thought it a compliment to call there in full state, and in his barge; when the archbishop being informed that the number of the company within the barge was thirty-two, he thought that a pint of wine for each would not be disagreeable; and ordered at the same time that a sufficient quantity of new bread and old cheese, with plenty of strong ale, should be given to the waterman and attendants; and from that accidental circumstance, it has grown into a settled custom. The company in return present to the archbishop a copy of the several almanacks which they have the peculiar privilege of publishing." Archbishop Tenison was appointed to the see of Canterbury, in 1695, so that it is clear there is some discrepancy in the above statement. I should like to know something more about the origin of this custom. ALEX. SMYthe. Replies. A SINGULAR RELIC. (Vol. iii. 152). WITH reference to the human head, which J. H. S. states that he has seen in Trinity Church, Minories, I beg to say that the only mention I have found of it in the books to which I have referred, occurs in the "History of the Parish of Holy Trinity, Minories," by the Rev. Thomas Hill, in which the author states-"By the pious care of Mr. Paterson, one of the parishioners, some bones taken from the slain of Culloden, are deposited in the churchyard, bearing date 1745, and also in the church is placed a head taken from a body which had evidently suffered decapitation, although it is impossible to discover now the name of its possessor." Had there been any historical or traditionary ground for asserting this head to be that of the duke, I have no doubt Mr. Hill would have alluded to it. Possibly the connection between this head and that of the duke originated in the fact that Henry Grey, first Duke of Suffolk, did receive as a grant the lands of the Abbey of St. Clare, a Convent of Minoresses, which occupied the site of the present Trinity Church, who was father to the Lady Jane Grey, and was beheaded on Towerhill, February 23rd, 1554. T. H. L. I think it is very probable that the head in question is none other than that of the unfortunate Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, and for these reasons: In the first place, the head has all the appearance of its having been severed from the body, a mode of execution reserved entirely for the nobility and persons of distinction. Secondly, King Edward VI., when he created Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk in 1551, gave him the land, on which was subsequently built the parish church of the Holy Trinity; and I think it is a fair inference that, after the execution on Tower-hill, the relatives and friends of the deceased would, as has frequently happened in the case of persons executed for high treason, have obtained permission to bury the body in a place of their own selecting; and, granting this, what place is more likely than the church of the Holy Trinity, as being contiguous to the scene of execution, and erected on ground the property of the family. T. L. F. INSCRIPTION QUOTED BY TAYLOR (Vol. ii. 205).—A somewhat different version is given by Mr. Dibdin in his Typographical Antiquities," vol. ii. p. 331. Speaking of Wynkyn de Worde's "THE SHEDYNGE OF THE BLOOD OF OUR LORDE JHESU CRYSTE at seuen tymes, emprynted at Westmynster, etc., quarto," he says:-Mr. Heber has a copy of this tract, which has nine leaves. The following rhymes annexed, in an ancient handwriting, are subjoined by Herbert : Who so hym be thought; ffrom bed vnto pytt. ffro pytt vnto payne: That eu' schall last c' tayne He wold not do on synne: All ye worlde to wynne!' This is in all probability a reimpression of the edition of the edition of 1509." Very possibly the Faversham tombstone inscription has been taken from this. SENNACHERIB. MEDIEVAL MIRACLES (Vol. iii. 155.)-" Dear nature is the kindest mother still," and some of her beneficent acts, ere science has analyzed them, may well seem to the uneducated or uninquiring, to be specially-appointed miracles. I have been told that spring water, when used for bathing weak eyes, will greatly strengthen them. At Hayes, near Bromley, in Kent, is a spring by the roadside, a stone slab at the back, and one at each side, with another atop, enclosing it somewhat in the fashion of a small cromlech, with the clear water trickling into the circular basin in their midst, and the grass and weeds growing around, make a very pretty sight. I was asking an innkeeper if it had any name or celebrity, and he told me that it was called Julius Cæsar's Basin, and that the water of it was very good for sore eyes: he had applied to his own when weak, with great benefit to them. A youth who was present corroborated the landlord's statement, and said that at one time his own eyes had been so weak that he had feared he would lose his sight, but that by bathing them with the water from Julius Cæsar's Basin, in two or three days his sight had regained its usual strength. J. P. EMSLIE. in a "Guide Book" that the original letter of James I. to MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (Vol. iii. 164.)—I find it stated the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral, requesting them to allow of the removal of the remains of Mary Queen of Scots to Westminster Abbey, has been placed in a frame by the entrance from the south aisle. Such a statement is calculated to mislead the public. The letter in the frame alluded to is only a photograph, and the original itself, which is in the Cathedral library, is not, except the signature, in the handwriting of that monarch. This is another proof of the little dependence there is to be placed in "Guide Books." C. BICKERSTETH. The following is a copy of the letter of James I. to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral at Peterborough, requiring them to allow the removal of the body of Mary Queen of Scots to Westminster :"James R. 66 Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well: for that we think it appertains to the duty we owe to our dearest Mother that like honour should be done to her Body, and like Monument be extant of Her, as to others, Hers, and our Progenitors, have been used to be done, and our selves have already performed to our dear Sister the late Queen Elizabeth, we have commanded a memorial of her to be made in our Church of Westminster, the place where the Kings and Queens of this realm are usually interred: And for that we think it inconvenient, that the Monument and Her body should be in several places, we have ordered that her said Body remaining now interred in that our Cathedral Church of Peterborough shall be removed to Westminster to her said monument: And have committed the care, and charge of the said translation of her body from Peterborough to Westminster to the Reverend Father in God, our right trusty, and well.beloved servant the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield bearer hereof, to whom we require you (or such as he shall assign) to deliver the Corps of our said dearest Mother, the same being taken up in as decent, and respectful manner as is fitting. And for that there is a Pall now upon the Hearse over her grave, which will be requisite to be used to cover Her said Body in the removing thereof, which may perhaps be deemed as a fee that should belong to the Church, we have appointed the said Reverend Father to pay you a reasonable redemption for the same; which being done by him, we require that he may have the Pall to be used for the purpose aforesaid. "Given under our signet at our Honour of Hampton Court, the eight and twentieth day of Septemb, in the tenth year of our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the six and fortieth." The removal of the body of the unfortunate queen was effected on the 11th October, 1612. T. SCOBELL. WALTER COPINGER (Vol. iii. 127).-Let me refer "F." for information as to the Copingers to Hollingsworth's History of Stowmarket " (chap. 16), published by Pawsey, Ipswich, and sold by Longman's, London, 1844. I know nothing of a grant of lands in divers counties. I find the following notes among my MSS. :-Allhallows Place, Kent, was bought of the Pimps by the Copingers. A Ralph Copinger died there 1620. Ambrose Copinger owned Nasber, Luddenham, Kent (temp. Elizabeth), from whom it passed to the The Davington Hall estate was alienated by the heirs of Ralph Symonds, Esq. (temp. Elizabeth), to Copinger. Brewsters. HENRY HILL, Rector of Buxhall. HURLERS (Vol. iii. 141, 154, 166).-In the parish of St. Cleer, there were three circles of stones called "Hurlers." At one time several persons were foolish enough to imagine that these very stones were once men, and that they were thus transformed as a punishment for hurling on the Sabbath day. Hurling is playing with a ball, principally for trying the strength and swiftness of the Cornish men. Dr. Borlase suggests that these circles of stones were intersected one with the other as in the curious cluster of circles at Botallack. These St. Cleer circles might have been used for the sacrifices prepared by the ancient Druids in their course of worship. The custom was to allot some to prayer, others to the feasting of the priests, others to the station of those who offered the victims. Whilst one Druid prepared the victim in one place, another adored in another; another went his round at the extremity of another circle of stones; so that several Druids followed each other in these mysterious rounds, while others were busily engaged in the rites of augury, &c. (See "Celtic Druids," by G. Higgins, p. 54.) W. WINTERS. "Some pious friend whose wild affections glow THE Custom of carrying garlands at funerals of unmarried persons is still kept up at Abbot's Ann, Hants, near Andover, After the funeral they are placed in the church. The sexton will give you dates and names; he generally adds, the only place in England where it is done, but here he is incorrect, as I know it is a common custom in Derbyshire and other counties. See an exhaustive article by Llewellynn Jewitt, F.S.A., in the Reliquary, vol. i., 5-11., with plate and cuts. SAMUEL SHAW. HUMAN BONES FOUND IN CHALK (Vol. iii. 126).—I think it very probable that some of the bones of skeletons found in the chalk may claim a very remote origin. I was unfortunately not able to see those lately discovered here, but they were exhumed from nearly the same spot where the other sixteen were found about fifty years ago. Three years since a single skeleton was found within half a mile of the same place in the Pilgrim's road, about two feet under the surface. The bones were much decayed and in a crumbling state, and with them a piece of iron about six inches long, square pointed at one end, the other drawn off bluntly as if it had been inserted in a staff or handle. There can be no doubt that some of these remains are those of the pilgrims who must have passed along this road in great numbers, and amongst whom there must have been many deaths. We can easily conceive that some way-worn pilgrim, struck by disease, terminating fatally, had been hastily interred in a shallow grave, scooped out by his fellow travellers with such rude implements as were at handthemselves unwilling to be detained from pressing onward to a prize dear to them almost as life-the prostration, the offering, the absolution at the shrine of the sainted Becket. CHARLES PARKIN, Vicar of Lenham. CROSS OF LUCCA (Vol. iii. 93, 154).—The "Volto Santo" is a crucifix of cedar-wood, the workmanship of which is attributed to Nicodemus. It is beautifully carved, and the face has a most spiritual expression. A pious tradition affirms that it was miraculously brought to Lucca in the eighth century. The chapel in which it is preserved is a gem. It is on the left side of the nave of the cathedral of St. Martino. The present chapel succeeded a much earlier one, and was built through the piety and munificence of Count Dominick Bertini, a gentleman of Lucca, in 1484, from the designs and under the direction of Matteo Civitali, also a Lucchese, and a notable sculptor. The crucifix is uncovered on three festival days every year; to see it at any other time a special permission must be had from the Archbishop. JAMES H. O'BRIEN. CARRYING GARLANDS AT FUNERALS (Vol. iii. 153.)This singular custom was strictly observed by our ancestors, especially in the case of females who died unmarried. They were rewarded at their death with a garland or crown on their heads, "denoting their triumphant victory over the lusts of the flesh." This honour was even extended to a widow who had had but one husband. These garlands or crowns were most artificially wrought in filagree work with gold and silver wire, in resemblance of myrtle, with which plant the funeral garlands of the ancients were mostly composed. These leaves of artificial myrtle were fastened to hoops made of large iron wire, lined with silver cloth. In addition to these crowns, the ancients had also their depository garlands, the use of which continued till quite recently in some parts of England. These garlands were carried before the corpse to the place of interment in a very solemn manner by two maids, and afterwards hung up in some conspicuous place in the church. They were made generally in the following manner:-"The lower rim, or circlet, was ANCIENT CAROL (Vol. iii. 152) This carol is very well a broad hoop of wood, whereunto was fixed at the sides, known in Somerset, and has been proved to be of very early part of two other hoops, crossing each other at the top at origin. A correspondent of Notes and Queries, who has right angles, which formed the upper part, being about one-published the result of his investigations respecting it in third longer than the width. These hoops were wholly 4th s. vol. iii. pp. 24-69, gives a translation of a hymn covered with artificial flowers of paper, dyed horn, and silk," said in Hebrew by the Rabbinical Jews on the first two and more or less beautiful according to the skill or ingenuity nights of the Passover," and in No. 2, 4th s. vol. ii. p. 557, of the performer. In the vacancy of the inside, from the top, is printed what appears to be a Christianized version, in hung white paper, cut in form of gloves, whereon were Latin, from which I think there can be no doubt the English written the deceased's name, age, &c. These were many version now current was derived. There is evidence, toc, times intermixed with gilded or painted shells of blown that a poem (if it may be so called), with many points of eggs as farther ornaments, or, it may be, as emblems of resemblance to the carol in question, was used by the Druids bubbles or bitterness of this life; whilst other garlands had on " Armorica." There are several versions given in Notes only a solitary hour glass hanging thereon, as a more sig- and Queries, and those included, I think I have seven, all nificant symbol of mortality." Cawthorn writes of Abelard differing more or less from each other; by comparing the and Eloisa :different copies most of the lines become intelligible, but |