Accompanying the report the following circular has been issued:

"About ten miles S.W. of Reading, and within three miles of Mortimer Station, is the site of a large Romano-British city or town, which has been identified with the Calleva or Calleva Attrebatum that begins or ends three and occurs in a fourth of the Antonine Itineraries.

It is situated in the parish of Silchester, and comprises 100 acres, chiefly of arable and pasture land, enclosed by the remains of the Roman wall, and nearly two miles in circumference.

With the exception of the old manorhouse, now a farm-house, and its outbuildings, and the ancient parish church of Silchester, all situated close to the east gate, there are no buildings within the city walls.

Casual excavations made in the last century showed that the foundations of houses and other Roman buildings lay buried a very little way beneath the surface, while the lines of the streets have long been noticed through differences in the colour of the crops growing over them, a peculiarity also recorded by Leland in the reign of Henry VIII., and other writers.

The first regular excavations on the site were begun in 1864, at the expense of the then Duke of Wellington, by the Rev. J. G. Joyce, rector of Stratfieldsaye, and continued from time to time until his death, in 1878. Mr. Joyce uncovered the remains of two small and two large houses, and part of another, a circular temple, the north, east, and south gates, the great town hall (basilica) with the market-place (forum) adjoining, and a very large building with baths attached, near the south gate, which is believed to have been an inn or hospitium.

After Mr. Joyce's death several other buildings were examined by the Rev. H. G. Monro, the Rev. C. Langshaw, and Mr. F. G. Hilton Price.

In 1890 the Silchester Excavation Fund was established for the systematic excavation of the whole area within the walls, a work that was begun and has since been carried on year by year. Under the scheme of operations adopted, each of the squares or insula into which the area of the city is divided by the Roman streets is thoroughly

examined by trenching, and all buildings, or traces of such, in it fully explored. The foundations, etc., so laid bare are properly planned, after which they are again buried for preservation, and the land restored to cultivation.

In the eight years that have elapsed since the establishment of the Fund, sixteen complete insula (one of double size) and portions of five others have been systematically excavated. Besides buildings within certain of them that were discovered by Mr. Joyce and his successors,* there have been brought to light thirty-one additional complete houses and parts of six others, a private bathing establishment, two square temples, the remains of the west gate, a Christian church (probably of the fourth century, and one of the oldest relics of Christianity in Europe), and a series of buildings, etc., in the northwest quarter of the town, which seemed to have belonged to an extensive system of dyeworks. The basilica and forum and the north and south gates have also been reexamined, and new facts brought to light. Further exploration of the baths attached to the hospitium near the south wall has led to the discovery of a singular series of drains and a small water-gate in the city wall. Another minor gate has also been found to the south of the west gate.

The sites of Roman cities in Britain being mostly overlaid by modern towns, very few of them are available for excavation. The site of Calleva at Silchester, therefore, offers exceptional advantages, from its freedom from buildings, and from its not having been occupied since the extinction of the town in early Saxon times.

All previous examinations of Roman remains in Britain, excepting, of course, those of villas or country houses, have been devoted almost exclusively to the military side of the Roman occupation, and little or nothing has been done to show the existence of a civil population with purely civil institutions.

Most of the Roman camps or military stations are of comparatively small area, and only contain a few acres, though some con

* The investigations of these explorers were confined to isolated buildings, and not to the examination of entire insula.

siderably exceed this size. Not one, however, is even half the area of Silchester, a fact which shows that it was a town and not a camp or military post.

This has also been confirmed by the excavations, which have hitherto revealed nothing whatever implying a military occupation, while the remains of large public buildings, temples, a church, houses, shops, and traces of manufactures, betoken the former existence of a purely civil community.

In no other Romano - British site have there been brought to light the remains of so many houses, temples, or other public buildings; while no other place has previously yielded a forum or a Christian church.

The exploration of Silchester is, therefore, the beginning of the history of the civil occupation of Britain by the Romans.

So extensive a work cannot be carried on without ample funds, and an average yearly expenditure of at least £500 is necessary in order to make any progress with the exploration of so large a site. Already about 60 out of 100 acres have been thoroughly examined, but a large portion of the city still remains to be explored. Nearly £4,000 has been subscribed and expended since the formation of the Silchester Excavation Fund, and it is estimated that a further sum of at least £3,000 will be required to complete the examination of the area within the walls.

The Executive Committee therefore venture to appeal to the public generally, and especially to such as are interested in the early history of this country, for funds to carry on a work that has already produced such valuable and interesting results.

The whole of the numerous antiquities and architectural remains found during the excavations have been deposited by the Duke of Wellington, the owner of the site, in the Reading Museum, where they have been admirably arranged by the Honorary Curator, Dr. Stevens. No such collection as that in the architectural-room can yet be seen in any other museum in Britain.

The work of excavation is carried out under the personal supervision of an Executive Committee of experts, who will be glad at any time to show to visitors what is in progress."

VOL. XXXIV.

Archæological News.

[We shall be glad to receive information from our readers for insertion under this heading.]

SALES.

MESSRS. CHRISTIE, MANSON, AND Woods sold at the beginning of July the collection of silver plate formed by the late Mr. Alfred Cock, Q.C., F.S.A. The collection included a circular deep dish, with fluted border and escalloped edge, 10 in. diameter, with the hall-mark of 1716, 29 oz., at 33s. per oz. (Gribble); four William III. small, plain, cylindrical sugar dredgers by Thomas Bolton, Dublin, circa 1693, 7 oz., at 6os. per oz. (Taylor); a Charles I.

small, plain tazza, or drinking-cup, 54 in. diameter, 1637, nearly 5 oz., at 82s. per oz. (Phillips); and an Early English tazza, with plain bowl chased, with narrow band beneath of pierced cut card ornament in relief, 3 in. diameter, circa 1540, 6 oz., at 148s. (Taylor). A Charles I. Apostle spoon, with figure of St. John, 1631, 15 (Crichton); another, with figure of Matthias, probably 1639, £13 10S. (Harding); a small standing cup and cover, with landscapes, about 7 oz.. 9 in. high, Nuremberg work, beaker-shaped bowl chased with stag and fox in

sixteenth century, £48 (Phillips); a standing bulb cup and cover, the bowl and foot spirally fluted, the cover surmounted by a group of flowers in silver, Nuremberg, sixteenth century, 13 in. high, 11 oz., £44 (Phillips); a miniature of a gentleman with powdered hair and red coat, by J. Smart, 1774. £21 (Colnaghi and Co.); "The Fighting Gladiator," a French seventeenth-century bronze, 19 in. high, 39 (Moscheles); 14 in. high, £51 (Smith); and an old oak cabinet, carved with figures in sixteenth-century costume, etc., 80 in. high, 43 guineas (Adams).

On July 13 Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge concluded a three days' sale of Mr. Cock's library. The collection sold extremely well, considering its very miscellaneous character. The Nurnberg, 1511, very scarce, £15 15s. (Rimell); more important lots were: A. Dürer, Passio Christi, Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portrait Miniatures at the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1889, 22 (Bain); a fifteenth-century MS. of Thomas à Kempis, Meditationes de Incarnatione Christi, with specimen of Low Country work, probably from numerous capitals and initials, a very beautiful some convent of the Windesham school, £27 (Quaritch): this MS. cost Mr. Cock £12 a few years since; W. Morris, The Story of the Glittering Plain, 1891, the first book printed at the Kelmscott Press, 16 10s. (Edwards); The Works of Chaucer, from the same press, 1896, £36 (Shepherd); Rev. W. R. Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, 1854-60, in twelve volumes, only 300 copies printed, £31 10S. (Quaritch); and J. A. Symonds, The Renaissance in Italy, 1875-86, seven volumes, £16 15s. (Sotheran).

KK

PUBLICATIONS OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL

SOCIETIES.

No. 218 (being the Second Part of Volume V. of the Second Series) of the Archæological Journal for June, 1898, has been issued. The following is a summary of its contents: (1) An Effigy of a Member of the Martin Family in Piddletown Church, Dorset," by Viscount Dillon. This "very beautiful effigy," as Lord Dillon truly describes it, is excellently represented in a drawing by Mr. G. E. Fox. (2) Sir Henry Howorth's inaugural address at the Dorchester meeting last year on Old and New Methods in writing History" follows. (3) Mr. F. G. Hilton-Price describes the "Remains of Carmelite Buildings on the Site of the Marigold at Temple Bar" in the next paper, which is followed by (4) one by Mr. J. R. Mortimer on certain "Pits or Ancient British Settlement at Danby North Moor." From certain letters which passed between Mr. Mortimer and Canon Atkinson (the venerable Vicar of Danby), and which are printed in the course of the paper, we are reminded of the saying that two lions cannot roar in the same field. (5) "Further Notes on the Rose, and Remarks on the Lily," by Mr. J. L. André, follow, and in turn is succeeded by a contribution from Chancellor Ferguson (6) on "More Picture-Board Dummies," in which certain of these fancies" at Spilsby, Raby Castle, and Dorchester Museum, are described and illustrated. We are glad to meet with a greater variety of matter in this part than in some others recently issued.

* *

Part I. of the Eighth Volume of the Fifth Series of the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries has reached us. It contains the following papers: (1) The Dun at Dorsey, Co. Armagh" (with four illustrations), by the Rev. H. W. Lett; (2) "Ballywiheen Church, Co. Kerry" (four illustrations), by Mr. R. A. S. Macalister; (3) "Stillorgan Park and its History," by Mr. F. E. Ball; (4)

Limerick Cathedral: its Plan and Growth," by Mr. T. J. Westropp (five illustrations). This paper (which is to be continued) is the first attempt to describe at all fully and in detail one of the most interesting of the old provincial cathedral churches of Ireland. We hope that Mr. Westropp, in a succeeding portion of his paper, may be able to give a shaded ground-plan of the cathedral, indicating the different periods of its erection. In (5) Mr. W. Frazer describes the discovery of a Cist at Dunfagny, Co. Donegal, with Human Remains" (reported by Archdeacon Baillie). (6) Notes on the Newly-discovered Ogam-Stones in County Meath," by Mr. R. Cochrane, with readings by Professor Rhys, follow, and help to make up an excellent number. In addition there are several useful and interesting shorter notes grouped under the heading of " Miscellanea." The number, as usual, is copiously illustrated. * * *

The First Part of the Seventh Volume of the Transactions of the Essex Archæological Society has reached us. It is a very good number, and contains the following papers: (1) "On some Interesting Essex Brasses," by Mr. Miller Christy

and Mr. W. W. Porteous. We have alluded to this paper in the "Notes of the Month," and have quoted from it what the authors say as to a brass at Aveley. The paper, which is continued from previous parts of the Transactions, contains some sixteen facsimiles of rubbings of brasses, and is a valuable addition to the literature on the subject. Our main objection is that all the brasses do not seem to be included. (2) The second paper is a contribution by Mr. H. C. Malden of some "Ancient Wills," ie., circa 1490-1530, bearing on the subject of the erection (at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries) of the steeple of Chelmsford Church. This paper is followed by (3) an account by Mr. Laver (with an illustration) of the Parish Cage and WhippingPost at Bradwell-on-Sea. Then come (4) ** Some Additions to Newcourt's Repertorium," by Mr. J C. Chancellor Smith. In the next paper (5) Mr. W C. Waller contributes the fourth part of his very useful paper on "Essex Field-Names," which we have previously commended. A fine font-cover at Takely Church is illustrated, and described among the Archæological Notes." The statement that it dates from the sixteenth or early seventeenth century" is manifestly a mistake. From the photograph we should say that the end of the fifteenth century, or perhaps earlier, is the probable date of the cover. The cover, we are told, was "originally surmounted by a small wooden tabernacle or fontcase. This cupboard,' as it is popularly called, is now standing in the vestry. It is 6 feet 3 inches high and 2 feet 6 inches square, each side containing eight panels finely carved after the wellknown linenfold pattern." [Here comes a description of an ordinary unglazed white ware fontlet, which used to be placed in it and served for baptisms. The account then proceeds to say :]

These font-cases are by no means common, but a fine example, with its pinnacle in position, is to be seen in the neighbouring church of Thaxted."

There is apparently a good deal of confusion (and no little ignorance of the subject) in this note, but we have quoted what it says because we fancy that the so-called "cupboard" or "font-case" is very possibly of far greater interest than the writer seems to suppose, and we hope that the fuller attention of local antiquaries may be drawn to it.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. THE annual meeting of the NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY was held on Thursday, June 16, when it was announced that the Master and Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge, have given permission to Mr. J. R. Tanner, of St. John's, to calendar the manu scripts in the Pepysian Library. It is intended that this calendar, which will be on somewhat the same lines as that of the Cecil Papers, drawn up and published for the Historical Manuscripts Commission, will be printed and issued by the Navy Records Society. It is a matter of satisfaction to all historical students that Magdalene College has felt able to relax in some degree the strict seclusion in which these manuscripts have been kept for the last two hundred years.

At the weekly meeting of the SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, on June 16, Chancellor Ferguson exhibited a Danish sword, shield-boss, etc., found in a Westmorland churchyard. Mr. A. T. Martin read a paper on the identity of the author of Morte d'Arthur, with notes on the will of Thomas Malory and on the genealogy of the Malory family. Mr. Martin pointed out that until last year no investigations had revealed the existence of any Malory named Thomas in the year 1469-70, the year in which the author handed over his book Morte d'Arthur to Caxton. In September, 1897, however, he was able to communicate to the Athenæum an account of a will of a Thomas Malory of Papworth, who must have died in September or October, 1469. Since that time further research had brought to light many additional facts about the author of this will, and had also revealed the existence of one, or perhaps two, other Thomas Malories, who were alive in this year. These last two Malories were respectively Sir Thomas Malory of Winwick, and a Sir Thomas Malory of whom nothing was known, except the facts recorded by an Inquisition post-mortem that he died in 1471, and held no lands in Northamptonshire. There are reasons for believing these two to be identical, and the only ground for identifying either or both of them with the author is the fact that both they and the author appear to have been knights. Of the history of the first-named Thomas, the testator, many facts have come to light, all of which tend to identify him with the author. He was the grandson of Anketin Malory, formerly of Kirby Malory, in Leicestershire, into whose family the manor of Papworth passed by his marriage with Alice, daughter of William Papworth. Anketin's son William, the father of Thomas, the testator, also held lands at or near Morton Corbet, in Shropshire. Here Thomas was born and baptized in the year 1425 His godfather was Thomas Charleton, of Appeley, and his godmother Margery, wife of Thomas Thornes, of Shrewsbury. He proved his age at Shrewsbury in 1451, having been for six years in the King's wardship as a minor. He did not, however, obtain a release from the King of his manor at Papworth till May, 1469, and he died in September or October of the same year. Now, his birthplace corresponds with remarkable closeness with the account of Thomas Malory given in 1548 by Bale, who says that Mailoria was "in finibus Cambriæ regio Deva flumini vicina," Morton Corbet being close to the Welsh border, and not far from the Dee. Other evidence was adduced as to the existence of a district called Mailoria. The chief obstacle to the identification of this Thomas with the author was the fact that in the documents examined there is no designation of rank, while the author styled himself "Knight." Bale, however, also omits any title. The fact that this Thomas Malory did not obtain a release from the King of his manor at Papworth, moreover, tends to identify him with the Sir Thomas Malory expressly exempted from a pardon by Edward IV. in the year 1468, of which a note was communicated to the Athenæum in July, 1896, by Mr. Williams. Martin also exhibited a deed, kindly lent by Mr. Williams, which was interesting because it bore the seal of John Malory, the father of Thomas

Mr.

Malory of Winwick. On this seal were the arms of Revell, which had been apparently adopted by his grandfather, who married the daughter and heiress of John Revell, of Newbould Revell.-Mr. Hartshorne communicated some notes on the cross now in the churchyard at Claverley, Salop, and on the characteristics of churchyard crosses generally.

* *

The annual meeting of the NUMISMATIC SOCIETY was held on June 16, Sir J. Evans, president, in the chair. The medal of the society, which had been awarded to Canon Greenwell, of Durham, for his marked services to ancient numismatics, especially in connection with the coinages of Cyzicus and Lampsacus, was formally presented. In Dr. Greenwell's unavoidable absence, the hon. secretary, Mr. Grueber, received the medal on his behalf.-The President delivered his annual address on the work done by the society during the past year, referring at some length to the various articles published in the society's journal, the Numismatic Chronicle. He also mentioned the losses sustained by the society by death or resignation, and gave a summary of the more important numismatic publications which had been issued during the last twelve months at home and abroad.-The ballot for the election of officers and council was then proceeded with, Sir John Evans being re-elected president, and Messrs. Grueber and Rayson secretaries.

* * *

The annual meeting of the General Committee of the PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND was held on July 5 at 38, Conduit Street. The chair was occupied by Mr. James Glaisher, F.R.S. The report of the executive committee having been read and adopted, the meeting was addressed by Dr. Bliss (who is shortly proceeding to Palestine to resume the work of excavation), by Professor Hull, Mr. Henry Harper, Dr. Lowry, Colonel Goldsmid, and Mr. Walter Morrison, the treasurer, It was stated in the report that a letter had been received from the British Consul at Jerusalem, informing the committee that permission to excavate in Palestine had again been granted by the Sultan, and that arrangements have been made for commencing excavations on sites in the neighbourhood of Tell-es-Safi, the supposed site of Gath, about midway between Jerusalem and Ashkelon. The cost of these researches will be about £100 a month, and funds are needed in order that the work may be done quickly and efficiently.

*

At the monthly meeting of the NEWCASTLE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES, held on May 29, Mr. R. Welford presiding, the chairman moved that a vote of condolence be sent to the family of the late Mr. John Philipson. He mentioned that Mr. Philipson was with them a month ago, apparently in the enjoyment of his usual health, and with the prospect of many years' usefulness before him. The late Mr. John Philipson was a member of a very old and honourable family in the North of England, and had been a sort of connecting-link between the older members and founders of that society and themselves, owing to his marriage with Dr. Bruce's daughter. They would miss his genial face, his dignified bearing, and that old-time sort of

courtesy which made him so excellent a chairman and so agreeable a companion.

Dr. Hodgkin seconded the proposition, which was agreed to.

The gift was announced from Mr. Walter Reid of a chemical balance, probably of early eighteenthcentury date, formerly belonging to the Goldsmiths' Company of Newcastle, and purchased by the donor at the sale of the effects of the Newcastle Assay Office. In a letter which accompanied the gift, Mr. C. L. Reid, a member of the society and one of the firm, said: "The ex-Assay Master, Mr. James Robson, told me he believed they were purchased at the time of, or shortly after, the restoration of powers of assay to the Goldsmiths' Company by the special Act of 1702; and his statement is corroborated by an entry in the minute books of the company, when, under date of May 2, 1729, there occurs this item amongst the disbursements: 'To a pair of scales for the use of the Company, £4 4s. od. Unfortunately the name of the maker is not stated, but they would probably be made by one of the goldsmiths, James Kirkup possibly, as he is mentioned in a former entry as repairing the scales for IIS. 6d."

On the motion of Mr. Heslop, seconded by Mr. Gibson, special thanks were voted to Mr. Reid by acclamation.

The following objects were exhibited:

By Mr. Hodgkin: A circular bronze plate, originally 3 inches in diameter, covered on its face with sunk patterns. Mr. Bosanquet thought the design was Greco-Roman rather than Celtic, as there are four or five zones; the outermost is the double-wave pattern of leaves and grapes, followed by a pear-like pattern. The centre is pierced, and around it is another ring of ornamentation. This object was probably used for attachment to harness.

By Lieut.-Colonel Haswell, of Monkseaton : (1) A silver beaker of beautiful workmanship, which is said to have been formerly in use as a communion-cup in a Yorkshire church. It is 5 inches high by 39 inches in diameter at mouth, and 2 inches at base. The hall-marks on the bottom are maker's marks: (i.) H м tied, dot above, spur-rowel below; (ii.) leopard's head crowned; (iii) lion passant; and (iv.) London year letter, Gothic M for 1609. There is the usual strap, with band crossing three times, enclosing a leaf-scroll of thistle, acorn, etc., a flower ornament extends halfway down the sides where the bands interlace.

(2) An open oval badge of silver, with a loop for suspension, bearing the inscription, "C. HERON SERJT AT ARMS LAW HOUSE SOUTH SHIELDS 1795." In the centre is an anchor, round which a rope is twisted. It is 4 inches long (including loop) by 2 inches wide, and has on loop three hall-marks: leopard's head crowned, lion rampant, and sovereign's head.

This gave rise to some discussion and to various suggestions as to the office mentioned.

Lieut.-Colonel Haswell said that nothing can be authoritatively given in explanation of it. In the new History of Northumberland, vol. iv., the genealogy of this family is given, and it is noted he assumed the title of "Sir," but whether rightly or wrongly is not stated. In a book (presented to

Colonel Pilter, C.B., by Captain Linskill) entitled. List of Volunteers and Yeomanry Corps of the United Kingdom, published by his Majesty's Secretary of State, dated 1804, under co. Durham, South Shields is shown to have had two corps, the one consisting of 236 volunteers, under the command of "Sir C. Heron, Bart." Many stories are still extant about his doings, but the grandfather of the Dr. Ward of Blyth, who was in Clifford's Fort at the time of a sham fight, has handed down the fact of the South Shields volunteers crossing the Tyne at the narrows on a bridge of keels, on which occasion Sir C. Heron waded over on horseback at the head of his men. Col. Haswell stated that the beaker came into his possession about thirty years ago. As regards the badge, he had not been able to make anything out. The Cuthbert Heron referred to lived in Heron Street, South Shields, and assumed the title of a baronet at the beginning of this century, and was then generally so known and addressed.

Mr. Adamson remarked that "Sir" C. Heron raised a corps of volunteers-the Sea Fenciblesof which he was captain, and in his commission he was designated Sir Cuthbert Heron, Bart. Could the office of Sergeant-at-arms have anything to do with the corps?

The recommendation of the council to hold an additional afternoon country meeting in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, proceeding from the castle by way of Jesmond Chapel, Salter's Bridge, ruins of North Gosforth Old Chapel, to Burradon Tower, and back by Stephenson's cottage, Westmoor, was agreed to.

The council recommended that a sum of £25 be contributed out of the funds of the society towards the excavation of the Roman station of Housesteads (Borcovicus) per lineam valli.

Mr. Hodgkin said that the committee had been fortunate in securing for a time the valuable services of Mr. Carr-Bosanquet, the son of their fellowmember, Mr. C. B. Bosanquet, of Rock, who had considerable experience of excavation in Greece, in superintending the excavations. At present about a dozen men were employed on the work. They had only been engaged about six or seven days, but already the results were very encouraging. He thought they would be able to trace the general outline of the camp. They found the remains of a large and, he thought, stately building in the centre of the camp. There were some fine bases of pillars, which were very massive. As at Esica, there were traces of successive occupations. They hoped to continue the work for two months, and he thought they would get some interesting results.

Mr. R. C. Clephan stated that he had just visited Housesteads, accompanied by Professor de Ceuleneer, of Ghent, an honorary member of the society, and they were pleased to see that great progress had been made in opening out the station. No new light had been shed on the situation, and no objects had then been found beyond some pieces of pottery The recommendation of the council for the grant of £25 was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. Hodgkin also announced that the council had approved of the draft of an appeal for subscrip tions towards the excavation fund. He had already