The Level of Hatfield Chace and Parts Adjacent. By JOHN TOMLINSON. (Doncaster: John Tomlinson. London: Wyman & Sons.) 4to, pp. vii.-322.

Mr. Tomlinson has taken up a work foreshadowed by Abraham de la Pryme in 1698, that curious gossiping antiquary, whose diary is equal, in its way, to anything else of the kind that exists. His collection of MSS., together with the labours of later workers in the same field, have been laid under contribution by the indefatigable industry of Mr. Tomlinson, and we may congratulate that gentleman upon the production of a much-needed history of a very important locality.

and sometimes boating, carried in his train a man who had other views than those who were content to let things be as they were. That man was Vermuyden, a Dutchman, who planned and carried out a scheme for draining and embanking this great level in 1628. Of the 170,000 acres comprising Hatfield Chace, there were, in the reign of James I., at least 60,000 acres of no value, except for hunting, fowling, and fishing. Queen Elizabeth had attempted to obtain a plan for draining these lands, but failed; and a commission, issued by James I., reported that the work was impossible. But Vermuyden thought differently; his own native land told him differently. Accordingly, in the words of Abraham de la Pryme, he "entered

The extensive tract known as Hatfield Chace was, in the times of the early Stuarts, little more than a vast swamp, with now and then patches of hard surface, upon which had dwelt the earliest inhabitants of our land, as is shown by the discoveries of barrows, remains of buildings, household utensils, celts, flint axes, arrow-heads, &c. But these little islets in the surrounding swamp were not compatible with the requirements of advancing progress, and it is recorded how Prince Henry of Wales, son of James I., proceeding through these great fens, sometimes wading

into Articles with his Majesty [Charles I.] upon yo 24th May, in y° 2nd year of his Reign for y Draining thereof, which after a few years labour he happily effected to y great benefit and ease of y country." For the events attending this great labour, for the settlement of a great body of Walloon emigrants here (whose biography our author justly observes would be highly interesting), for the methods of bringing the land into cultivation, for the great and beneficial results, we must refer our readers to the book itself. In place of swamps there arose the signs of English

life, plots of cultivated land, village homes, and beautiful village churches.

Such books as the one before us have a very special value, because, dealing with the actual history of great alterations in the surface of our land, they enable the historian to obtain clear information of the topographical influences on English history. How important these topographical influences really are we need not touch upon now; but Mr. J. R. Green, in his Making of England, has shown how vastly they enter into the history of the early periods of English history, and the same influences must of course exist throughout, though we fear they are too seldom taken into account. Of the vast amount of incidental information contained in Mr. Tomlinson's book we cannot speak too highly. It is illustrated by very well executed woodcuts of Hatfield, Thorne Fishlake, and Barnby Dun churches, of Hatfield Manor House, Thorne Old Hall (a very interesting building), Dunscroft Grange, besides maps of Hatfield Chace before the drainage, and of "the true and perfect plot" as surveyed in 1639. It contains appendixes of very valuable documents relating to the drainage, and a fairly good index. We wish, however, that Mr. Tomlinson's style of narrative were more in conformity with the established rules of important historical records such as he has given us.

The Western Antiquary, or Devon and Cornwall Note Book. Edited by W. H. K. Wright. (Plymouth : Latimer and Sons.) 4to, pp. 80.

Mr. Wright has succeeded sufficiently well with his quarterly issues to venture upon a monthly issue (of which several have already appeared), and we wish him all the success he deserves. The last part of the quarterly issue now before us contains a vast quantity of valuable local notes, and has some illustrations which add greatly to the value of the letter-press. The Editor's observations on municipal records will, we hope, be productive of useful results. Our readers should certainly make themselves acquainted with our local contemporary.

Aungervyle Society. Parts ix. x. and xi. April to July, 1882. 8vo, pp. 64.

These three new parts carry these excellent reprints to a further stage. "The Romance of Octavian, Emperor of Rome," abridged from a MS. in the Bodleian Library (circa 1250), by the Rev. J. J. Coneybeare, and edited by E. M. Goldsmid, is concluded; and we have the two first instalments of "The Imprisonment and Death of King Charles I., related by one of his Judges; being Extracts from the Memoirs of Edward Ludlow, the Regicide, with a Collection of Original Papers relating to the Trial of the King." This is an extremely interesting contribution to an always interesting subject. Ludlow was one of the most honest of the English revolutionists, and his notes bear out this characteristic. His exposure of the double practices of Cromwell is very severe, and the occasional bits of grim humour that lit up this troublous age are singularly curious. Cromwell, on one occasion, "took up a cushion, and flung it at my head, and then ran down the stairs;

but I overtook him with another, which made him hasten down faster than he desired." We congratu late the Society upon their work, and would only suggest that they should give us more explanation of the sources and bibliographical value of their reprints.

A Provisional Glossary of Dialectical Place-Nomenclature; to which is appended a List of Family Surnames pronounced differently from what the spelling suggests. By ROBERT CHARLES HOPE. (Scarborough Theakstone & Co.) 12mo, pp. 22.

This little book will form a valuable groundwork for a very useful work, and the author asks for assistance in making a fuller list. The local pronunciation of many names is often widely different from the orthography, and in some instances there are varieties of pronunciation. Thus, Altrincham, in Cheshire, is called Thrutchm, Autrinjam, Altringam, and Autsjam; and Macclesfield is indifferently Maxfield, Maxfilt, or Maxlt. Some of the pronunciations will be found to be conflicting. Thus Accomb is called Yaccan, and Yardley is turned into Ardly. Although these forms will probably live long, they will without doubt gradually die, on account of the influence of those who only know them as written

names.

Transactions of the St. Paul's Ecclesiological Society. Vol. i. part 3. London. 1882. Royal 8vo. We have already welcomed the former parts of this valuable and thoroughly well-edited publication. The St. Paul's Ecclesiological Society is a young institution, but it has rapidly grown in public estimation, and if it continues to be conducted with the vigour already displayed it cannot fail to continue its growth. The papers in this volume are of very great interest. Several important churches are described by Mr. G. H. Birch; Mr. Baden Powell and Dr.Wickham Legg deal with liturgical customs; Mr. Mayhew with Baalism; Major Heales with the furniture and ornaments of the altar; and Mr. Somers Clarke compares St. Peter's and St. Paul's.

Our Noble Selves; or Gleanings about Grantham Surnames. By the Author of Notes on the Months, Notes on Unnatural History, &c. (London: T. Fisher Unwin.) 1882. Sm. 8vo, pp. viii.-109.

Lincolnshire surnames are much like surnames in other parts of the country, and therefore the very interesting chapters on the origin and history of names in this book will be of more than local interest. The author writes:-"Here and there I have kept names upon my list which are now only borne upon tombstones among us; here and there I have retained one which has passed into currency elsewhere, and is in Grantham nothing more than a token of bygone The years, and mayhap of a half-forgotten man.' subject is a fruitful one, and this is a book that is likely to make it a still more popular one than it already is, although we are not prepared to agree with all the etymologies.

A History of Aylesbury, with its Borough and Hundreds and Hamlet of Walton. By ROBERT GIBBS. Parts i. ii. 4to. (Aylesbury: R. Gibbs.) 1882.

The borough of Aylesbury is known to a large number of persons from the fame of its butter; to others it is a representative place, on account of its excellent system of sanitation; but Mr. Gibbs shows us that it has a history of considerable interest. It is not easy to criticise a work of this character with only two parts before us, but we hope to do more justice to it as it proceeds. Enough, however, has appeared to make us wish for more.

The Field Naturalist and Scientific Student. Nos. 1-3. June to August, 1882. (Manchester: Heywood.) Now that the third part of this new journal has appeared, we wish to record our opinion that it ably meets an admitted want. Field clubs are formed in nearly every county, and their labours as mediums of instruction can scarcely be overstated. This journal should be their especial organ, and we shall always, as long as it keeps to its proper functions, as it does now, give it our cordial support. It has much work before it, and it is capable, we feel, of doing it well. The information it contains is varied and instructive; and one letter from Mr. Darwin to a young naturalist exhibits perhaps one of the most charming traits of character we have seen for some time. Plant-lore and bird-lore cannot but be interesting to the antiquary.

Meetings of Antiquarian Societies.

METROPOLITAN.

Archæological Institute.-July 6.-Lord Talbot de Malahide, President, in the chair.-The Rev. W. Loftie read a Paper, and offered some observations, upon the hawk sacred to Chonsu, with special reference to Rameses XII. and Raneferoo, his queen, and described the manner in which the various towns of Egypt favoured the worship of different animals, and the high favour in which the hawk was held.—Mr. W. Brailsford read a Paper on the monuments of the Seymours at Great Bedwyn, Wilts, which included a notice of the remarkable and lengthy inscription on the tomb of Sir John Seymour, the father of Edward, Duke of Somerset, and Jane Seymour, who died in 1536.-Prof. B. Lewis read a Paper "On the Antiquities of Autun, the Capital of the Edui of Cicero."Capt. E. Hoare read some notes on a sepulchral statuette, which he exhibited, of an hereditary lord and landowner, of a very rare type, circa 1000 B.C.—Mr. H. R. H. Gosselin laid before the meeting some fourteenth-century tiles from Bangeo Church, Herts.

Anthropological Institute.-July 11.-General Pitt-Rivers, President, in the Chair.-Lord Talbot de

Malahide read a Paper on the longevity of the Romans in North Africa. The author gave several instances of epitaphs and inscriptions on tombs of persons whose age had exceeded 100 years; in some cases the ages of 120, 130, and even 140 years had been attained.Capt. R. F. Burton read a Paper on some Neolithic implements and other objects brought by himself and Commander Cameron from Wásá, on the Gold Coast. A large number of objects were exhibited by the authors and Mr. Ross.-Gen. Pitt-Rivers read a Paper on the Egyptian boomerang, and exhibited several specimens.-A large collection of Bushman drawings was exhibited by Mr. M. Hutchinson.

PROVINCIAL.

The Royal Archæological Institute.—August I.-On Tuesday afternoon the Institute commenced the business of its annual meeting in the city of Carlisle. Lord Talbot de Malahide, who is the President of the Institute, was again in his place at its head; but the duties of president of the Carlisle meeting have this year devolved upon the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Dr. Harvey Goodwin). At two o'clock the Mayor and Corporation arrived. The Mayor wore his insignia of office, and was attended by his sword and mace bearers. The proceedings were commenced by the Town Clerk reading an address of welcome to the Institute. After the inaugural meeting, the members of the Institute perambulated the city, and visited the ancient castle, cathedral, city walls, and other objects of interest. In the evening Mr. Freeman gave an address on "The Position of Carlisle in History.' He said that city was one of the few cities which could point to a personal founder in historic times, its foundation being dated from a day long before William Rufus, and alone among cities of what we now deem proper England Carlisle bears an almost untouched British name.-Dr. Bruce then gave a Paper on "The Music of the Borders," illustrated by pipers on the Northumbrian bagpipes, and by a vocal quartette party. Dr. Bruce explained the construction of the Northumbrian bagpipe, and to show how expressive was the music of the instrument he called upon the piper to play the tune "Take a Look at Maggie's Foot." The instrument, he remarked, could nearly speak the the words. The grandest of Northumberland tunes was the ballad of Chevy Chase." He had no doubt that originally the ballad had been the wail of the mourners, a dirge; but though a dirge originally, it had afterwards been made a battle cry, to the strains of which the sons and daughters of Northumberland delighted to hail their chieftain. The reason of the change was obvious. It was a cry from the dead to march to victory and avenge their cause, and it spoke well for a people when their energy was roused by misfortune, and when the dirge of the sire became the battle cry of the sons. Such was Chevy Chase. There were three versions of it. Two belonged to 1450, and the other, which they had now in use, was of the age of Elizabeth-say about 1560. The lecturer next discussed and illustrated the ballad of "Bewick and Gram," which he said belonged to the western side of the Border. It had nearly been lost,

but was happily preserved by Sir Walter Scott, who obtained some of the verses from an ostler in Carlisle. The next piece was "The Roses Blaw," which he believed had appeared in a Scottish collection of ballads. On Wednesday there was an excursion to the Penrith district. The Church of Kirkoswald was first visited, and thence the visitors proceeded to Kirkoswald Castle, where only a few shattered walls now remain of what was once a splendid palace of the Dacres. A description of the building was given by Dr. Taylor, of Penrith, and Mr. G. T. Clarke, of Dowlais. The circle of stones known locally as "Long Meg and her Daughters" was the next place visited. Professor Stephens, of Copenhagen, made some remarks upon the cup and ring marks found upon the stones, the real meaning of which had given rise to much discussion. He thought they were religious symbols, pointing to the worship of the sun at a time, in fact, so distant, as the Stone Age. From "Long Meg and her Daughters" the party proceeded to Brougham Castle, where Mr. Clark delivered an address, and the company went by way of Brougham Hall to Eamont Bridge. A mound in the locality, called "Arthur's Round Table," was visited. The circle of stone at Mayborough was subsequently visited and a smaller circle close to it, which Dr. Simpson and Mr. Evans agreed in declaring to have been a place of burial. In the evening the Antiquarian Section met under the presidency of Mr. Evans, and a Paper on "The Antiquities of Algeria," by Lord Talbot de Malahide, President of the Institute, was the chief feature in the programme. The meeting of the Institution was continued on Thursday at Carlisle, Lord Talbot de Malahide presiding. The report for the year was read by the Secretary. Sectional meetings were held during the day, and a visit was paid to Rose Castle, the residence of the Bishop of Carlisle.

Shropshire Archæological and Natural History Society. - Annual Excursion. - June_27.— The first item in the day's programme was Battlefield Church. This picturesque edifice is believed to be erected over the spot where were laid, as in one common grave, so many hundreds of valiant knights and squires, who perished in the bloody struggle in 1403, between King Henry IV. and the heroic Henry Percy, better known as "Hotspur." The original foundation consisted of a collegiate church for five secular canons, and "endowed with a piece of ground, with all the buildings on it within the lordship of Adbrighton Husee in the field called Haytelfeld, which piece of ground was ditched in, and contained in length and breadth two acres of land, together with two inlets and outlets along the lands of Richard Husee, one 20ft. wide and the other 15ft. wide." The collegiate buildings, as well as the church, probably stood within this enclosure, but not a vestige of them exists at this day, though traces of the moat eastward are visible. Among its other endowments were the revenues of the churches of St. Juliana, and of St. Michael, within the Castle in Shrewsbury, the grant of the latter being in the year 1417. In the year 1861 the present church underwent a thorough restoration. It consists of a nave and chancel or choir, separated by a dwarf stone screen, and contains several handsome monuments to members of the Sundorne family. On

the north side of the chancel is a mortuary chapel, built in 1860, over a spacious double vault containing the remains of several generations of Corbets. The roof is constructed on the hammer beam principle, and on the point of each bracket is a shield blazoned with the arms of one of the illustrious individuals who took part in the battle-viz., on the north side, Henry IV. Earl of Dunbar, Sir Hugh Stanley, Sir John Cockayne, Sir Nicholas Gausel, Sir Hugh Mortimer, Sir Hugh Shirley, Sir Robert Malvausin, Sir Madoc Kynaston, and Sir Richard Sandford. On the south side: Henry, Prince of Wales, Edmund, Earl of Stafford, Sir John Clifton, Sir Walter Blount, Sir Robert Gausel, Sir John Massey, Sir Thomas Wendesley, Sir Reginald Mottershead, Sir Jenkin Hanmer, and Sir Richard Husee. In the church is a curious piece of wood sculpture, called "Our Lady of Pites," representing the Virgin Mary seated, bearing on her knees a dead Christ. In a tabernacled niche over the east window is a statue (crowned) of the founder, Henry IV., in whose right hand was once a sword. In the sacrarium is a piscina and sedilia, and the reredos is elaborately carved in stone. After this inspection the party went to Shawbury Church. This church, which is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, is a structure of considerable antiquity; it consists of a nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a lofty square tower, ornamented with eight pinnacles. It exhibits various styles of architecture, from the Saxon-traces of which are observable in the imposts of the south arcade, which itself is Norman in character-down to the Early English, Perpendicular, and Decorated; and there is a curious admixture of red and white stone used in its construction. north porch is modern, and from it a medieval arch leads into the nave of the church, which is separated from the aisles by Norman arcades. The Jacobean pulpit and reading-desk are of oak, richly carved, and there is also an ancient alms box cut out of a solid block of oak. The font is unmistakably Saxon. The external aspect of the edifice is bold and massive, especially that of the tower, which displays two distinct styles of architecture, the Perpendicular and Decorated. It has been an addition to the original Norman church. On the north face of the tower is a bracket or corbel, which probably once supported a statue, and over it a shield, on which is inscribed "Thomas The latter word not being very legible is believed by some to be "Charlton," others think it is "Morton." It is, however, too modern to be the name of the person whose statue stood below. A short distance from the church is a moated "Buhr," which indicates that in the Saxon days a building of some importance stood there. The excursionists then went to Moreton Corbet, or Moreton Turret, which name it retained until 1516. The estates came into the possession of the Corbets by the marriage of Sir Richard Corbet, of Wattlesbury, with the heiress of the Turrets, or Turits, tempore Henry III. The church, which is dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a handsome structure of freestone in the Decorated style of architecture, and consists of nave, chancel with south aisle, and western tower, through which the church is entered by a fine Elizabethan doorway. The tower was built in 1769 by Andrew Corbet. The church contains two fine altar tombs, well pre

The

served, each with two recumbent figures. One of these represents Richard Corbet, and his wife, Margaret. It bears the date of the death of the former only, 1667. The other is in memory of Sir Robert Corbet, Knight, and Elizabeth, his wife, 1563. In the south aisle are the remains of a piscina, and an aumbry of which the hooks on which hung the door remain. In this aisle is also a hagioscope, or squint, which clearly proves that the aisle is of more recent erection than the chancel, as the squint usually occurs in the external wall commanding a view of the altar at the elevation of the host, by lepers who were not allowed to enter the church. The picturesque ruins of the adjacent castle were also examined with considerable interest. The remains of three distinct buildings are to be seen. Over the portal of the older one are the initials S. A. C., 1576, and also I. R. C. 1578, with the elephant and castle, the crest of the family. On another portion of the building is an enigmatic inscription O. L. L. E. D., 1515, A. R. C., also the date 1578 on a pedestal. The new house was never completed, though it was held as a garrison for the King in 1664, and was said to be very strong. It was, however, taken by the Parliamentarians the same year, and soon afterwards was seriously injured by fire. There are several curious traditions connected with the place. The next place to visit was Stanton-on-Hine-Heath, famous as the birthplace of Alderman John Boydell, the munificent patron of engravers, and himself an engraver of the highest class. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1790. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a Norman structure, with a square western tower of much later date, the lower portion only being Norman. It is finished with eight pinnacles, and has very massive gargoyles. There is a fine timbered roof which is almost entirely concealed by a hideous coved ceiling. There is some trace of herring-bone work in the south wall of the chancel, which was rebuilt by the then patron, in 1740. Altogether the building appears to have been terribly mutilated according to the whims of successive churchwardens, some of whom have left their marks on one of two massive buttresses built in support of the tower in 1666. The party proceeded on foot to the Bury Walls. This famous Roman encampment is considered to be the most perfect in the kingdom. About twenty acres of land are enclosed and screened on three sides by a natural fortification, a chain of inaccessible rocks; and on the fourth side by a triple entrenchment of impregnable strength. Many Roman coins have been found here, and in 1821 a spur, of undoubted Roman workmanship, was found in the garden of the Bury farm, a short distance from the camp.

Surrey Archæological Society.— July 5. Annual Meeting.-The Earl of Onslow, Vice-President, in the chair.-The first meeting-place being at the Town Hall, Guildford, Mr. D. M. Stevens read a Paper upon the Corporation Records and Plate. Mr. Stevens mentioned that Guildford was doubtless from its position known and occupied by both the British and the Romans. It became a Royal residence at least as early as Alfred the Great, and had become at the time a borough by prescription, and the settled abode, exclusive of Stoke, of something like 700

VOL. VI.

persons. He described the various charters, from the first, granted by Henry III., dated January 7, 1257, to that of Richard II., in 1378. The Corporation plate was next touched upon. The history of the small mace had never been solved, but the large mace was presented to the Mayor and approved men of Guildford by Henry Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, but then High Steward. The Mayor's chain was stated to have been presented in 1673, by Arthur Onslow, High Steward, and was described in the records as 66 a faire chayne of gold, double-linked, with a medal of massey gold whereon his Majestie's armes are curiously engraven, and on the reverse the armes of the said Mr. Onslow." The history of the plate and Mayor's staff of ebony, presented by Queen Elizabeth, was related, and then speaking of the Town Hall, Mr. Stevens said a portion of it doubtless dated back to the reign of Elizabeth, but the front of the building, with the council chamber above, was erected by subscription in 1683. The portraits in the hall were those of James I., Charles II., and James II., the two latter said to be originals by Lely, also of William III. and Mary, a half-length of the Hon. Arthur Onslow, Recorder of the Borough from 1722 to 1768, and Speaker of the House of Commons, and that of Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Onslow, by John Russell, R.A., native of this town. The company next proceeded to Archbishop Abbot's Hospital, and after inspecting that fine old building, and visiting the museum, the Rev. F. E. Tower read a Paper upon the Hospital :-George Abbot, the founder, was born at Guildford, October 29, 1562. He was the son of a clothworker, or "clothier," as his father is described in an old lease of church property (now exhibited). He was consecrated Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, December 3, 1609; Bishop of London, August, 1610; Archbishop of Canterbury, April 9, 1611. On April 6, 1619, the Archbishop laid the first stone of the Hospital, and afterwards settled on it lands to the value of £300 a year. The original statutes of the Hospital are in Lambeth Palace Library. The dining hall next the chapel demands notice. Here the master and brothers and sisters dined in common. They kept Founder's Day every year, as well as Christmas, Easter Day, and Whit-Sunday, expending according to statute ten shillings among the company, that they might with thanks to God lovingly rejoice together. In the muniments-room at the top of the tower are some wonderful account and entry books which might well form the subject of a distinct Paper. A few pictures in the rooms and chapel of the Hospital (the gift of Earl of Onslow) are-in the chapel, the Archbishop, Sir Nicholas Kempe, and Mayor Jackman; in the Master's house, the Reformers, Fox and Wickliffe; on the staircase, Calvin; in the dining-hall, another Reformer, Munzer, a disciple of Luther. The visitors then paid a visit to the museum, and inspected many places of interest in the town, including the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas Churches, the Castle, the crypts under the Angel Hotel and the opposite house, the use of which is uncertain, but which are supposed to have been occupied as winecellars by Henry III.; and the unique carved wood staircase at Mr. Bull's shop in High Street, the finely-moulded ceilings and oak panelling also attracting much attention. The com

K