this out as a suggestion for the consideration of those who understood the Welsh language. The black matter that had been found in the interior of the tumulus was excessively offensive, so much so as to render it difficult for the men to work there. Large stones, some of which weighed two hundredweight, appeared to have been thrown into this peaty matter. At some distance below the surface there was found moss or broom, quite as green as that found on the surface; but on being exposed to the air soon became discoloured. -Mr. Whitlock Nicholl said he seen the dark matter spoken of by Mr. Fox, and had found all through it the roots of fern. It appeared to him that that dark mass was at one time the upper surface, but had been displaced.

The Rev. Dr. Todd, of Dublin, then exhibited, and explained, some drawings of antiquities in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy, added to the collection since he had addressed the association at their last meeting at Carnarvon.

The Rev. H. H. Knight, Rector of Neath, then read a valuable paper on the Insurrection of Llewellyn Bren. This outbreak, although it engaged the anxious attention of the Parliament at Lincoln in 1316, and its results operated powerfully on the fortunes both of Edward II. and his favourite Hugh Le Despenser, Lord of Glamorgan, has been almost totally overlooked by English and by Welsh historians. In accounting for the suddenness of this movement, the peculiar state of the country after the fall of Lewellyn ap Griffith, the disturbances which followed it, and the break in the line of descent by the slaughter of the last earl of the princely house of Clare, at Bannockburn, must be taken into consideration. The domains of Clare were now in the hands of the English monarch, where numerous and superfluous officers exasperated the hardy mountaineers of Glamorgan by their vexatious exactions. These grievances led to petitions from the men of North and of South Wales, who were probably encouraged by the Scotch King to rebel. The petitions were graciously received, and certain extortions checked; but unhappily the tidings of concession, and the voice of conciliation, did not reach South Wales sufficiently early to prevent the rising. It was preci. pitated by an affray between Sir Payne de Turburville, Lord of Coity Castle, and Governor of the Land of Glamorgan for the King, and Lewellyn ap Rees, commonly called "Bren," or, according to the Iolo MS. "Hagr," the rough or fierce. Lewellyn and his sons, who, if not descendants of Ivor, were yet men of princely extraction, so aroused the ardour of their

countrymen that they are said to have been at the head of ten thousand soldiers. They ravaged the castles of the vale, drove the cattle to the mountains, hid their valuables in caverns, probably those on the banks of the Ogmore, and prepared in every way for strenuous resistance. After several skirmishes, they were worsted by Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecon, the King's brother-inlaw, by Sir William Montacute, the Mortimers, and others of the most distinguished soldiers of the age sent against them. Under these circumstances Lewellyn, as prime mover of the war, gallantly came forward and surrendered himself, "stipulating for the pardon of his followers," says the monk, and accordingly we find their forfeited lands and possessions restored to eighteen of his principal adherents, the Vaughans, Madocs, Lewellyns, Gethins, Trahernes, and others. From an order made relative to an arrear of their allowance, we ascertain that Lewellyn and his two sons, Evan and Griffith, were detained as prisoners in the Tower of London from the 27th day of July 1316, to June 1317. Other sources of information throw light on Lewellyn's fate. It was a main charge against the Despensers when they were banished by the confederacy of the barons in 1321 that "after the King," persuaded probably by the Earl of Hereford and the Lord Mortimer of Wigmore, (the nephew,) "had pardoned Lewellyn, the Despensers, taking to themselves royal power," had him, at Cardiff, drawn, headed, and quartered, to "the discredit of the King and the said nobleman, yea, and contrary to the laws and dignity of the imperial crown.' The punishment of this breach of faith was signal. Sir William Fleming, who had held Lantrissaint Castle against Lewellyn, and probably as sheriff had superintended his execution for the Despensers, siding against them in 1322, was taken after the bloody contest at Boroughbridge, and himself executed at Cardiff as a traitor; whilst by a still more striking retribution the unhappy Edward II. and his favourite, four years later, after a hasty retreat through Glamorgan, from whose shores they could not fly, although they visited successively Cardiff and Caerphilly, and Margam and Neath, were both intercepted or betrayed. Despenser was forthwith hung at Hereford, with the words of the 52nd Psalm embroidered on his surcoat, "Why boastest thou thyself thou tyrant that thou canst do mischief?" &c. and a doom far more ignominious than that of Lewellyn Bren awaited the deposed monarch Edward II. at Berkeley Castle.

Dr. Petrie then exhibited a drawing of

Merthyr Mawr Stone. Mr. Graves an Dr. Todd agreed with him that the inscription on this stone was similar in character to the inscriptions found on stones in Ireland, but that it was of an earlier date. Those stones seemed to bear the names of patron saints of districts, or of the kings or chiefs. He felt that those ancient remains were of great importance, and he begged to impress upon the gentlemen of Wales the necessity of taking more care of them. The gentry of Wales ought to be proud of their ancient remains. They had also such a beautiful country, one that combined all the wild beauties of romance and poetry with the richness of English scenery. Dr. Petrie, after some further remarks, said he had seen that day a stonecutter at Lantwit Major in the very act of cutting up an ancient monument of the place. It was a most distressing thing. By his contract that man was allowed to use all the stones for the repairs of the church, and what he did not use he might carry away. With regard to Welsh antiquities in general, Dr. Petrie observed that casts should be taken of all the ancient stones bearing inscriptions; and if duplicate casts were made they might be sent to Dublin or elsewhere to be read by persons who were versed in such matters. The antiquaries of Dublin would pay for such casts.

The next year's meeting was appointed to be held at Dolgelly, in North Wales.

ARCHEOLOGICAL MEETING AT

THETFORD.

The Bury and West Suffolk Archæological Society having resolved to make an excursion to Thetford, invited the Norfolk and Norwich Society to join them, and the invitation having been accepted, the meeting (which was postponed on account of the death of the Lord Bishop of Norwich, the President of the Norwich Society), took place on Thursday the 27th Sept. The meeting commenced by the exhibition of a museum collected at the Town Hall. A fine series of rubbings from ecclesiastical brasses was hung around the room; beneath which were ranged a highly finished series of drawings, by the Rev. J. Bulwer, of churchscreens at Gately, Trimmingham, Aylsham, Hunstanton, Cawston, Marsham, Breccles, Saxthorpe, and Thwaite; also mural paintings from Swannington and Cawston. The achievement of the Seneschal Baron, tempore Richard II. engraved in Betham's Baronetage, 4to. 1801, was exhibited by Lady Buxton; and large drawings in outline of tapestry in the possession of John Adey Repton, esq. Numerous smaller objects of antiquity were

arranged in glass cases, including a Bronze Lamp found in one of the tumuli at Rougham, by P. Bennet, esq.; Mr. S. W. Stevenson's Ivory Casket (see our Sept. Magazine, p. 296); an alabaster Tablet, representing the martyrdom of St. John, temp. Hen. IV.; a number of Gold Coins and Seals, Bronze Fibulas, antique Gold Repeater, Silver Tabitier, figure of Christ in Ivory, the work of an Italian artist, Roman Coin and Urns found on the Shadwell Estates, &c., by Lady Buxton ; Egyptian Antiquities, by the Rev. H. Hasted; Ornaments from Thebes, by Mr. Deck, of Cambridge; an Osculatory of the 15th century, by the Rev. S. Titlow, Norwich; Shields carried by the Speech-boy at the Norwich Guild, by the Rev. Richard Hart; a brass Pix and Cameo of Elizabeth, by Mr. Henry Farrer; an antique Dial of brass, found at Fulmodestone, with the arms of Wolsey engraved upon it, by the Rev. Lee Warner; a Wassall Bowl, by W. H. Heane, esq.; specimens of Roman glass vessels, by Sir T. G. Cullum; leaden tokens of St. Edmund, by S. Tymms, esq.; gold breastplate, gold box, and necklace of amber, discovered at Little Cressingham, by Thomas Barton, esq.; a large collection of ancient Rings and Seals, by Mr. R. Fitch; and a Chain of Iron, believed to have been used to confine martyrs at the stake, found at Diss, by Mr. Goddard Johnson, &c. A number of Drawings were exhibited, some by Thomas Martin, the historian of Thetford; Norwich Castle, by Buck; and many by Cotman, and others.

Earl Jermyn, in a few words, moved that the Mayor of Thetford, W. W. Wicks, esq. should take the Chair. A preliminary address was then delivered by W. B. Donne, esq. who, after alluding to the early history of Thetford, as the original metropolis of East Anglia, remarked that "he was disposed to think that no very considerable population of the Celtic race at any time occupied this eastern corner of England, for the Iceni soon yielded to the Teutonic races from Germany. It is well known that the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk formed part of the littus Saxonicum, the Saxon shore, which extended from Brancodunum or Brancaster in Norfolk to Plymouth. Nor was the coast line of these eastern counties at all similar to its present outlines and bearings. It was deeply indented by large estuaries, and was within a few hours of the restless tribes that were accustomed to brave the German ocean. He believed the commencement of the greatness of Thetford was its occupation by the Roman, who, wherever he went, planted a uniformity of law, and tended to make England what she is."

The company then commenced a perambulation of the antient town, repairing first to the Castle Hill (a view of which was given in our Magazine for July 1848). Here they were addressed by the Rev. James Bulwer, with some observations on its history, in the course of which he said, "A question had been asked whether the hill had been thrown up, or if shaped to its present form from its natural proportions. An answer to that question he would leave to those who had heard him, as from examination they were as capable of judging as himself. He had received a letter from Mr. Adey Repton, in which it was sug gested that the works had borne walls of stone. Mr. Repton was no mean authority, but in this particular he thought Mr. Repton mistaken, and probably the error arose from the remains of clunch being found, which entered into the composition of the hill. No doubt but the area had been inclosed by a wall of masonry, as a document existed in Thetford which spoke of a wall being removed in 1772, and since the trees were planted there had been no change in the hill."

The next object visited was "The Place," a mansion formed by Sir Richard Fulmerstone, temp. Eliz. from the buildings of a nunnery: its history was detailed by Mr. Samuel Tymms. From thence the company proceeded to Sir Richard Fulmerstone's school, and the adjoining remains of the church of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre; after which they were conveyed across the river to the site of the Priory church, the few remaining ruins of which are in the garden of T. Featherstone, esq. The chief feature is a fragment of the chancel arch, which, by the grace of its proportions and the elegance of its Norman capitals, discloses that the building was one of great beauty. An attempt was made in the days of "Honest Tom Martin," the historian of Thetford, to give the ichnograph of Thetford Priory, but with little success. It was reserved for the present meeting, and the indefatigable efforts of Mr. H. Harrod and Mr. Tymms, secretaries of the two associations, to make known the extent and various parts of the building. The foundations of the nave, choir, transepts, and Lady chapel have been satisfactorily disclosed, and the cloisters, the refectory, and other buildings set apart for the accommodation of the monks, are equally distinct. The steps to the high altar, worn by devotees, the spiral stair to the vestiary, the foundation of the stone seats of the refectory, have also been uncovered. At the west end of the ruins was hung a large perfected plan of the priory, as dis

closed by the excavations, together with plans of Castle Acre Priory and Norwich Cathedral, and with illustrative drawings furnished by John Britton, esq. F.S.A.

Mr. Donne here read a paper from Professor Corrie, of Catherine-hall, Cambridge, and chaplain to the bishop of the diocese, on the ecclesiastical history of Thetford. He remarked that the letters of Herbert de Losinga, the first Bishop of Norwich, which were printed in 1845, furnish some particulars of the consecration of the priory church, and also shew that the same prelate placed the school under the tuition of a deacon named Bund. A historical account of the priory church was also read by Mr. Harrod, which was concluded with the following description of the edifice, derived chiefly from the recent excavations. "At the west end arose two lofty towers, flanking the great western doors. These, with the excavated portions of the nave, were all of the period of the foundation, with the exception of a few fragments in the windows. Proceeding up the nave, the fragments of the rood-screen were reached. A small chapel on the north, judging from the work of Martin, was the place of sepulture of one of the Brotherton family. Entering the choir by the door of the screen, four immense piers of the central tower were to be seen, with the transepts, having small chapels with apses. From the northern transept was to be seen the ruins of the sacristy. Leaving this, and again entering the choir, they came upon the third arch from the central tower to the arch of the chancel, one side of which stood erect upwards of 60 feet. Here the Norman work ended, the east end being of the early Decorated period. He had supposed the first building ended with an apse, similar to Norwich cathedral, and his conjectures had been rendered into certainty by a careful inspection of the point of junction with the main building. Between the choir and Lady chapel were the bases of a large arch. The space beneath it had been filled with monuments of the Howards and Mowbrays-one of them, undoubtedly, John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, buried in 1461. Mr. Harrod then pointed out the cloister, where several shafts had been preserved. At about 56 feet from the nave, on the east, stood the entrance to the Chapter House, every vestige of which was now gone, except the extremely curious moulding, of which he had seen but one example, in the cloisters of Peterborough cathedral. The remains of a portion of a Norman arcade and a seat were still evident in the Chapter House. The refectory and the walls of the garden were also evident, and also the

Prior's apartments. The relative proportions of Castle Acre and Thetford Priories were as follows:-Castle Acre, length 226 feet, of nave 90, choir and Lady chapel 136, breadth of nave 59, transepts 99. Thetford-length 248, of nave 125, choir 125.

The proceedings of the day were brought to a close with a dinner at the Bell inn, at which some excellent speeches were made by Professor Sedgwick, Mr. Donne, the Rev. C. J. P. Eyre, and other gentlemen present.

MEETING OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL

INSTITUTE AT SALISBURY.

(Continued from p. 407.)

On SATURDAY THE 28TH OF JULY the proceedings commenced with a meeting of the Section of Architecture, at which the President, Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart. presided. A valuable memoir on the Churches of Sherborne and Wimborne Minster was communicated by the Rev. J. L. Petit, illustrated by numerous beautiful sketches by the author, and several drawings by Mr. Philip Delamotte.

A notice of the Custumal of Bleadon Manor, in the thirteenth century, was contributed by Mr. Edward Smirke. It comprised a mass of curious information on agricultural matters and local usages at the period, extracted from a MS. in the muniment room of the Dean and Chapter of Winchester.

Mr. Markland made an announcement of the proposed Illustration of the Tombs and curious early sculptures in Iona and the Western Islands of Scotland, of which only a few striking examples had been published by Pennant, and a complete series is now in preparation by Mr. John Graham, of Clapham Common, Surrey.

The meeting then adjourned to the Cathedral, where the Rev. C. Boutell delivered a very instructive address in explanation of the costume, armour, and sculpture displayed by the Monumental Effigies and Brasses there preserved.

In the afternoon the General Meeting was held, instead of the last day, in order that it might not interfere with the proposed excursion to Silbury Hill. The

reports of the Treasurer and Auditors were read, and the customary votes of thanks were passed. It was announced that the Institute had received an accession of nearly two hundred members since the last year's meeting at Lincoln; and it was determined that the Annual Meeting of 1850 should be held at Oxford, with the Marquess of Northampton as President.

At an evening meeting the Rev. Dr. Ingram offered some remarks on the Roman

road from Sarum to Winchester, on the barrows of the downs, a prætorian villa near Ringwood, and other cognate subjects.

John Britton, esq. F.S.A. read a paper on Market Crosses, particularly those at Salisbury, Malmesbury, and Chichester. Contemporary documents first make mention of a cross in Salisbury in 1360. In 1789 a paper was published showing that about 1375, or 1378, the bishop of the diocese imposed a penance on the then Earl of Salisbury, whom he compelled to erect a cross, on which the history of his fault should be inscribed, and to which he should resort to make a weekly acknowledgment thereof. But as the present cross exhibits no traces of any sculpture referring to such penance, and as mention was made in 1412 of a spot where the old Poultry -cross formerly stood, it is fair to presume that the present cross is of a later date. A minute architectural description of the cross was then given; and a similar description of Malmesbury Cross, which Mr. Britton supposed to have been built about the latter end of the fifteenth century, as Leland mentions it in his time, as having been erected within the memory of man. To Chichester Cross he assigned a like date, and gave a similarly minute detail of its architectural beauties.

Some highly interesting notices of primeval stone monuments in the north of Holland were communicated by a distinguished Dutch archæologist, Mr. Van Lennep; and the importance of these remains, as compared with Stonehenge, and various early British remains in Wiltshire and the neighbouring counties, were illustrated by many interesting particulars supplied by Mr. Winter Jones. A memoir was received, comprising some exceedingly curious details relative to an interment discovered on the estates of Lord Stanley, of Alderley, near Holyhead, of which particulars were communicated by the Hon. William O. Stanley; and the urns discovered were exhibited in the museum, where they had attracted much notice, on account of their value for comparison with examples found in Wiltshire. Mr. Hawkins contributed a paper on the ancient Mint of Sarum; Mr. John Gough Nichols memorials of the Earls of Salisbury; Mr. H. Moody an analysis of the Wiltshire Domesday Book; and Mr. Cunnington a memoir on the geology of Stonehenge: these communications, though not read for want of time, will be included in the volume of the proceedings of this meeting, intended to be published by subscription (price 158.)

On MONDAY THE 30TH OF JULY a