he adds:-"Sir Christopher Wren, in consequence of the depth and largeness of its foundation was convinced that it must have been some more considerable monument than a mere milliary stone." Munimenta Antiqua, i. 117. (King's See also Pennant's London; Gentleman's Magazine, xl. (ii.) p. 126, for some useful notes.) It is clearly seen from these remarks that the stone itself gives evidence of a higher antiquity and a more important use than is incidental to a Roman milliary stone. Mr. Henry Charles Coote, F.S.A., was the first to open up a new phase of this interesting question. In a paper read at a meeting of the London and Middlesex Archæological Society, and printed in their Transactions for 1878, Mr. Coote rescues the traditions about London Stone from a mass of irrelevant material, and thoroughly indentifies "London Stone the fragment with London Stone the house of Fitzaylwin, the first Lord of London." But in the process of this identification we pass a piece of municipal folklore, as Mr. Coote so aptly terms it, which leads us a great deal further back than the times of Fitzaylwin. Holinshed, the historian, tells us that when Cade, in 1450, forced his

way into London, he first of all proceeded to London Stone, and having struck his sword upon it, said, in reference to himself and in explanation of his own action, "Now is Mortimer lord of this city." And Mr. Coote rightly concludes that this act was not a piece of foolish acting-it meant something to the mob who followed the rebel chief. Mr. Gomme in his Primitive Folkmoots (pp. 155-6) takes up the matter at this point and places the tradition implied by Cade's significant action as belonging to times when the London Stone was, as other great stones were, the place where the suitors of an open-air assembly were accustomed to gather together and to legislate for the government of the City. There is some kind of traditional evidence of this fact, besides curious historical parallels elsewhere in London. Thus, at the Lord Mayor's Court, the summons or calling of the defendant was orally made, and in early times was, without doubt, a substantive summons and bidding of the debtor to appear in court, and by some supposed to have been at London Stone (Brandon's Customary Law of Foreign Attachment, p. 6), which has been considered to be the spot where all public proclamations and general summonses were made, and the tendering and making payments of debts, &c., and the place of meeting for merchants (Brandon's Lord Mayor's Court of the City of London, P. 14, note P). Nor is this all. The Athenæum of May 7, 1881, contains a letter which points out that the action of Jack Cade at London is exactly paralleled by the action of the Mayor at Bovey Tracey. Here the Mayor used to ride round the village cross and strike it. This is a municipal custom connected with the election of the Mayor and his rights of headship in the borough; and so must the Jack Cade incident have been. Again it is a curious illustration of, or perhaps parallel to, this traditional evidence of London Stone to observe that the justices itinerant in the time of Edward I. sat at the stone cross (opposite the Bishop of Worcester's house, now Somerset House) in the Strand. This venerable monument, which was even then ancient, is mentioned by Stow, as standing headless in 1598. The justices probably, in bad weather, sometimes sat in the bishop's house (Ritson's Court Leets, Introd. p. ix. n).

Popular Names of Tumuli, etc. (iv. 77, 219; v. 33).

Queen Blearie's Stone.-This stone stood on the farm of Knoe, midway betwixt Renfrew and Paisley, and about 240 yards to the west of the present road. It was an octagonal column about 10 feet in height, without any inscription or sculpture whatever.Hamilton's Descriptions of Lanark and Renfrew (Maitland Club), p. 297.

Devil's Night Cap.-Agglestone or Eggletone is the name given to a rock of large size which from its peculiar shape and position has frequently been considered to have connection with druidical worship. The country people call it "The Devil's Night Cap," and have a tradition that it was hurled by his Satanic Majesty from the Isle of Wight, for the purpose of destroying Corfe Castle, but that it dropped short in the place where we now find it. (Journal of the Archæological Association, xxviii, 222.)

Legal Folk Lore.-Before the introduction of Christianity, the northern nations annexed the functions of the judge to the sacerdotal office; and some of the traditions of the law can be curiously elucidated by the fables of ancient superstition and mythology.

.. An aid to the recollection was often afforded by poetry. . . . . . The marked alliteration of the Anglo-Saxon laws is to be referred to this course.

From hence also may originate those quaint and pithy rhymes in which the doctrines of the law of the old time are not unfrequently recorded. Thus, the Kentishman asserted the liberty of his gavel-kind tenure by the rude distich of

"The vader to the boughe-and the son to the ploughe."

He redeemed his lands from the Lord by repeating, as it was said, in the language of his ancestors"Nighon sithe yeld-and nighon sithe geld -and vif pund for the were-ere he become healdere."

The forest verse

"Dog draw-stable stand-back berend-and bloody hand"

(Inst. 4. p 294), justified the verderer in his summary execution of the offender. And in King Athelstane's grant to the good men of Beverley, inscribed beneath his effigy in the Minster"

-

"Als fre-mak I thee-as heart may think-or eigh see"

(Rot. Parl. vol. iv p. 85) we have perhaps the ancient form of enfranchisement or manumission. (See Palgrave, English Commonwealth, i. 42, 43.)

The following proverbs are founded upon the legal custom of purchase and emancipation preceding marriage of freemen with slaves :

Trittst du meine henne, so wirst du mein hahn. Die unfreie hand zieht die freie nach sich En formariage le pire emporte le bon (Kemble, Saxons in England, i. 195).

A Letter from Wm. Nicolson to John Evelyn. (Communicated by the Rev. E. King.)

The following characteristic letter, the original of which is in my collection, from the learned author of the Historical Library of Great Britain to the celebrated John Evelyn, is perhaps worthy of a place in THE ANTIQUARY:

Nicholson was, at the date he wrote it, 1699, Rector of Great Salkeld and Archdeacon of Carlisle, of which See he was shortly afterwards consecrated Bishop.

Address to letter:

Treatment, wh I had from other hands. I am abundantly sensible what a rashness it was in one under my poor circumstances to publish a Censure on our Law-Writers: And I might have forseen (nay, I did foresee it) that some of those who are better acquainted with them, than I am, would roughly let me know that I was a medling Fool, and out of my sphere. This has been my Fate. I hope the same gentlemen will not tell me that I was also out of my sphere when I took upon me to prophesy.

I heartily concurr with you, S', in my wishes that our Universities would commute some of their present exercises for others that lean more towards the study of our Municipal Laws. My Lord Privy Seal* has lately erected a School here at Lowther, wherein (besides the three Languages of Greek, Latine and French) the masters are obligd to instruct their Youth in Ethicks and Oratory. I have that just Honour for my mother and her sistert that I do not desire to hear of His Lordship's example being followed in other parts of the Kingdome. But this project takes so well in the North, that (unless the great men in Oxford and Cambridge be alarm'd by it into some new measures) I am afraid it may lessen the numbers that have hitherto been sent to our two antient and (yet) flourishing Universities.

Amongst the many undeserv'd favours which I have had from S Jos. Williamson, I thought it no small one that He was pleased to make use of my services in sorting a deal of confused Writings in the Paper-office; tho' himself had class'd the greater part of 'em, before I had the Honour to have any dependance upon him. I was then troubled to observe (what your Letter takes notice of) that there are most lamentable defects in the Memoirs of almost every year; which methinks might (in a great measure) be supply'd by procureing Transcripts, at least, of all such as are now in the hands of the Heirs of those Ministers of State, who have formerly carry'd them off. It was my Master's constant practice to have all the Letters, Instructions, &c. registered in two different Books; one whereof was alwaise transmitted into the Paper-Office, and the other reserv'd for his own private use. Had this method been observed by his predecessors, the collection of precedents had not been so lame as now we find it; and there would have been a farr less embezlement of this part of the King's Treasure.

I am sorry, Sr, to hear that your communicative Goodness to some of the neighbouring Kingdome should rob you of any materials, you had in store, towards the completing of their History. This is a mishap which (my friend) Mr. Thoresby complains of. He was prevailed with to lend them S Tho. Craig's M.S. Treatise de Hominis; which was translated and publish'd in English, by Mr. Redpath. But, whether the Translatour or Printer are to blame, the Book was never return'd to him. I have not the like reason to complain of the Usage I have met with amongst the learned men of that Nation. I have had very pressing Invitations from several of 'em to draw up another Historical Library for them, in somewhat of the same Form with that of the English one and

John, Viscount Lowther. + Oxford and Cambridge.

the plentiful Assistances which they have already given, and promis'd, have forced me into the Attempt. I have made some considerable Advances in it; and I hope (if God continues my health) to finish and publish it the next Summer. I design it in one entire Folio Volume; wch (I guess) will be about the bigness of your Numismata. There are many pieces in our English Libraries that I must enquire after. Mr. Wotton has kindly promised me an Acct of those in my La Longueville's; and I expect the like Supplies from others. May I not also hope that you will Vouchsafe me a more particular Account of yours than the printed Catalogue has given me? You have, I find, a MS. Life of Mary Q. of Scots in Italian. I would humbly beg what Information you can afford me of the Author and Contents of that Book; and I should be likewise very thankful for yo like short View of Another Life of the same Queen in Mr. Pepys's Library. Besides these, you have still (I see) some of her Letters. You have also St Cuthbert's Life. I know not whether this may not be different from Bede's, and all others whch I have taken notice of in the Second Part of my Library.

You see, Sr, what trouble you have created to your self by stooping to such an impertinent correspondence as mine is like to prove, if you shall give it any further encouragement. The truth is, I am hungry and in want of those provisions where of you have great plenty; and, if I snatch too greedily, you must keep at a greater distance from

Salkeld

Dec. 4. 99.

Hond Sr

Your most oblig'd and most humble servant WILL. NICOLSON.

Antiquarian News.

A rumour has reached us that the interesting little church of Northorpe, near Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, is about to be restored, and that it is proposed to sell the old leaden roof for the purposes of the restoration fund. It is hoped that our informant is suffering under some misapprehension. The roof of the nave and chancel are late Perpendicular, and, consequently, of a low pitch. If the lead be removed, it will be needful to replace these old roofs with something of a higher pitch, or the rain will be driven under the slates in stormy weather. Now these roofs, though plain, are of very good character, and a little careful repair would make them last for centuries. There are some good bosses upon them; one or more of them are armorial. We distinctly call to mind the shield-a single garb-of the old family of Shaw, of Frodingham. A more senseless piece of destruction cannot be imagined than replacing these old timbers by a spider-legged" erection of modern pine. The whole of the church is very interesting, and has suffered little. The arcades are late Norman of fine bold character; the aisles and clerestory Perpendicular. The choir has two lovely

Geometrical-Decorated windows. The east window is late Perpendicular-probably made after the Reformation. One of the lights has a curious irregularity in the head which is thought to have been a blunder. Of this we are doubtful. Whether a blunder or not, it certainly ought not to be replaced by any new thing in the most correct modern taste, for it is an interesting specimen of local work. There are several brasses in memory of members of the Monson family, of which the present Lord Monson is the representative. The pulpit is a pleasing specimen of Queen Anne's time, or the Early Georgian era. The south door is of carved oak-Curvilinear. Decorated and has the reputation of being one of the finest things of its class in Britain. The rood screen and oak stalls were destroyed at the beginning of this century. The present pews which replaced them are so ugly and inconvenient that we should not regret their removal. We are glad to be able to add that Mr. Edward Peacock, F.S.A., has taken the matter up, and is doing all he can to hinder this useless spoliation.

A very interesting piece of news for Egyptologists and the public generally has just been contributed to the Journal des Débats from Bedrechyn, by M. Gabriel Charmies. That gentleman is now travelling in Egypt with M. Maspéro, the director of the Egyptian Museums, who has determined on opening all the Pyramids that have not yet been explored, and on further searching those that are not thoroughly known. Among the Pyramids situated on the borders of the Lybian Desert is that of Meydoum, said to be the most mysterious of all. It appears that its entrance has never been discovered. Ibrahim Pasha even endeavoured to effect a breach in its walls with artillery, in the hope of finding a treasure concealed therein. It is to this pyramid that M. Maspéro is now devoting his attention. By removing some of the ground on the north side of the artificial mound which surrounds the pyramid he has succeeded in uncovering all the points where an opening might be revealed, and the result has shown that his calculations were well founded. Thirteen days of active labour, with skilled workmen, has sufficed for the discovery of a secret which was believed to be undiscoverable. The spades of the fellahs have exposed to view the opening, which is situated nearly at the top of the artificial mound. On entering the Pyramid the visitor passes through a corridor, admirably constructed, which takes him about 40 yards in a gentle decline, as is the case in the great Gizeh Pyramid. Here, for the moment, he is stopped by the débris, which is being rapidly cleared away. M. Maspéro has already found two sacred inscriptions, in the style of the Twentieth dynasty, giving the names of two scribes who had visited the Pyramid. Hopes are entertained that no one may have set foot in it since, and that it may be found to be intact; "but," concludes M. Gabriel Charmies, "whatever happens, the opening of the Meydoum Pyramid will still unravel one of those mysteries which have for so many centuries hung over ancient Europe, and which one by one are yielding to the efforts of modern science." The late Mariette Bey, in one of his works, said that the Pyramid was called by the Arabs Haram El Katdab-the

False Pyramid-as they believed it to be nothing but a huge rock shaped as a pyramid. This tradition may have helped to preserve it from molestation.

The will of Mrs. Agnes Jane Hugo, widow of the Rev. Thomas Hugo, Rector of West Hackney, who died on October II last, was recently proved. The testatrix, among other legacies, bequeaths the collection of papers and manuscripts made by her late husband for the history of Somersetshire to the British Museum; the collection of papers and manuscripts for the history of Taunton, to the Somersetshire Archæological Society; the Catalogue of the British Museum Manuscripts acquired between 1782 and 1835, of which very few were printed, to the Society of Antiquaries; and one of the ancient chalices collected by her late husband, each to the West Hackney Church, Christ Church, Marylebone, St. Cypriane, Marylebone, and Taunton Church. The collection of the works, engravings, and blocks of Bewick, left to her by her husband, is to be offered to the British Museum at one-half of the value placed upon them by some agreed valuer.

A discovery of great interest is announced from Asia Minor. Mr. Ramsay, the holder of an archæological scholarship endowed for three years by an Oxford Professor, has been exploring in the upper valley of the Meander, and has come upon a Phrygian cemetery which had not been reported by any previous traveller. The result of some preliminary excavations on the site has been such as to give hopes of a rich yield both of inscriptions and of works of art. Mr. Ramsay's account of his researches will be published in the next number of the journal of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies.

The Corporation and city of Carlisle, following the example recently set by Canterbury, Chester, and Leicester, have invited the Commissioners on Historical MSS. to examine and report upon their muniments. The work has been entrusted to Mr. J. B. Sheppard, whose reports upon the Canterbury archives, both city and cathedral, are now finished. The Dean and Chapter of Carlisle are availing themselves of Mr. Sheppard's visit to have an account drawn up of their cathedral records; and Dr. Goodwin has kindly given access to the diocesan registry.

The Council of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archæological Society announce that Lord Fitzhardinge has very liberally and courteously given his consent to the very valuable MSS. of John Smyth, the antiquary, written in the early part of the seventeenth century, and the ancient MS. register of the Abbey of St Augustine at Bristol, which are preserved in the Muniment Room at Berkeley Castle, being printed by the Society for its members. It will be edited by Sir John Maclean. Smyth's works consist of two distinct parts. The first contains the "Lives of the Berkeleys." Under this head Mr. JH. Cooke says:-"In this work he (Smyth) gives a complete biography of every lord of Berkeley from Robert Fitzhardinge down to his own time, twenty-one in number. The events and transactions of each lord's life are given, with some variations, under the

following heads: 1.-His birth and course of youth. 2. His husbandries and hospitalities. 3.- His foreign employments. 4.-His recreations and delights. 5. His purchases and sales of land. 6.His law suits. 7.-His alms and devotions. 8.-His miscellanies. 9.-His wife. 10.-His issue. II.-His seals of arms. 12. His death and place of burial. 13. The lands of which he died seized." The second part contains a descriptive account of the Hundred of Berkeley, with all the manors, lands, and advowsons thereto pertaining, with their devolution, respectively, from the date of the Domesday Survey to Smyth's own time. To this description is appended very remarkable collection of Old Gloucestershire proverbs and folk lore.

The parish church of Wrockwardine has been reopened after undergoing restoration. The structure, which is one of the most ancient in the county of Shropshire, had become very dilapidated in parts. The plaster ceiling has been taken from under the belfry, and replaced with a Norman arch. The tower, which had formerly been supported by props, has been underpinned and made secure at each corner. nave has been re-roofed on the south side. In carrying out the work of removing the plaster, several fine old arches have been discovered, which formerly were entrances to the building, and these have been allowed to remain.

The

Our readers will be interested, we think, in learning that a model is being exhibited of Ely Cathedral at High Street, Lincoln. This model, which faithfully reproduces all the varied styles of architecture to be met with in the noble and sacred edifice, is the work of two self-taught men, Mr. M. G. Strapps, of Wisbech, and his son. It is formed of old English oak, which, while great advantage over models produced in cork, inasentailing much more labour on the artisan, possesses a much as all the minute parts of the building can be cut in a perfect manner. The lantern especially manifests great skill; it is indeed a faithful reproduction of the elegant original. There are no less than 340 windows in the model, of which 100 are of stained glass, and when it is lighted up in the evening the effect is very pleasing.

A discovery of medieval silver work, with some gold ornaments and precious stones, has been made at Vufarfre, in Sweden, by a peasant digging in a ditch. The principal objects were seven silver bowls, one attributed to the twelfth century, decorated with plants and animals, and three of the fourteenth century of smaller size, with figures of St. Olaf, the Evangelists, and the Apostles in relief. Among the other articles were spoons with Runic characters, gold armlets, necklaces, rings, and chains. They appear to have been deposited in a box, the only remains of which are some pieces of ironwork.

Prince Gaetan Filangieri, of Naples, the grandson of the author of the work on the Science of Legisla tion, has presented to the municipality of Naples the collection of artistic and archæological objects which he has spent his life in forming, and which is valued at £60,000. He has also promised to erect a gallery for its exhibition, and to provide an endowment. Among the contents are many pictures by the old

masters, including several by Domenichino; a unique series of coins and medals; a collection of armour of the Middle Ages, and of oriental weapons of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; faïence ware, glass, wood-carving, fans, Eastern carpets, &c.

Mr. Ruskin has changed his plans with respect to the museum he has founded at Sheffield, and it is his intention to devote the remainder of his life to making it about the most complete institution of the kind in the world. He has decided to send there his unique and almost priceless library from Brentwood. Plans for the extension of the buildings have been prepared, and a public subscription, which the Duke of Albany has promised to head, will shortly be opened to defray the cost of the enlargement.

Everleigh House, near Devizes, belonging to Sir J. D. Astley, Bart., Elsham Hall, near Brigg, was, on Dec. 13 last, totally destroyed by fire. The house was traditionally the residence of the old Saxon king Ina, whose hunting lodge is said to have stood near the Sidbury encampment. The mansion just destroyed was probably built by Sir Ralph Sadleir, to whom the lordship was granted by Henry VIII. Sir Ralph was afterwards falconer to Queen Elizabeth, and was so fond of hawking that when he was appointed custodian to Mary Queen of Scots, at Tutbury, he allowed his prisoner to participate in the sport, which brought on him the reprimand of Elizabeth. Sadleir's portrait was still to be seen in the old house, which had passed into the hands of the Astley family. Everleigh House was the home of that Sir Francis Astley whose electioneering exploits in 1818 occupy a conspicuous place in Wiltshire annals. It was mainly a commodious residence of early eighteenth-century date, built of brick, with slate and leaden roofing. An older part of the building was a drawing-room of grand proportions and ancient style, looking out on a superb Elizabethan lawn, with fine yew and box shrubs of quaint form.

The historical "Shaftesbury House," standing in Aldersgate-street, was sold by auction recently. It was built by Inigo Jones for the Tuftons, Earls of Thanet, and was hence known as "Thanet House," till it passed, in the reign of Charles II., into the hands of the family of the notorious Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, whose town-house it was for many years.

The Guildhall Library are about to provide cases for the display of the Roman, Romano-British, Medieval, and other antiquities recently purchased of the executors of the late Mr. J. Walker Baily, and a cabinet for the collection of historical portraits contained in the illustrated copy of Granger and Noble's Biographical History of England.

The fifth annual report of the Town Clerk as to the records of the Corporation of the City of London was submitted to a recent meeting of the Common Council; and Mr. Hart, the Chairman of the Library Com mittee, obtained authority to expend £150 in the compilation of a general index to the Repertories from 1700 to 1857, and a further sum of £25 in the repair of certain early rolls of deeds, wills, pleas, and memoranda, &c.

Instructions have been given by the Duke of

Hamilton for the sale of the libraries and MSS. at Hamilton Palace. The collections include the famous "Beckford Library," and in variety of subjects and beauty of condition the books may be said to surpass those in the celebrated Sunderland Library.

It is proposed to publish by subscription a new edition of Mr. R. Johnson's Ancient Customs of Hereford, which contains an account of the laws and customs of one of the oldest cities in the kingdom. No written account of these laws has been transmitted previous to the time of William the Conqueror, but when this warlike Norman took possession of the land he found Hereford possessing a code of laws of its own, with a royal mint and moniers attached thereto. This book will contain translations of the charters granted by divers kings to the citizens, also an account of court-rolls, bailiffs' account rolls, grants, and proclamations, notice of freemen, their courts and privileges, also of the various trades and guilds. But perhaps the most important part of the work, in an historical point of view, are the copies of letters and other document sent by the Lords President of the Marches of Wales. Very multifarious are the subjects to which these refer, but two letters especially attract attention one from Queen Mary, endeavouring to reconcile her subjects to the proposed marriage with Philip of Spain; the other from Queen Elizabeth, defending that courtly favourite the Earl of Leicester in her usual firm imperious style. The subscription is 10s. 6d., and subscribers' names may be sent to Mrs. Johnson, The Steppes, Eyne, Hereford, or the Rev. E. L. Barnwell, Melksham, Wilts.

:

The National Society for Preserving the Memorials of the Dead, in the Churches and Churchyards of Great Britain, has now been organized, and has made considerable progress. The object of the Society is to preserve and protect the memorials of the dead in the parish churches and churchyards of Great Britain, a much needed work, and on all hands an acknowledged want. The rules of the Society suggest various ways of accomplishing the work, e.g., by securing a record being made of sepulchral memorials now existing, &c. The late Mr. G. E. Street, four days prior to his death, accepted the post of honorary architect. Honorary secretaries are appointed for the counties of Cambridge, Durham, Lincoln, Middlesex, Norfolk, Nottingham and Warwick, by whom names of persons wishing to become members are received, and of whom any information may be obtained. The Secretary is Mr. William Vincent, Lower Hellesdon Road, Norwich.

He

Dr. Phené, whose interest in serpent-mounds is so well known, visited Gala Park, near Galashiels, at the latter end of last year, to inspect a mound there, which is believed to be of prehistoric origin. examined its exterior on all sides, took measurements of it, and determined its position on the ground with relation to Galahill and the Eildons, and the bearings of all these to the east. He found that what appears to be an artificially formed road, here and there showing traces of pavement, runs along the ridge of the mound from end to end; that in general form the mound is distinctly serpentine, and he is under the impression that, though the mass has been originally