Thursday, June 15Th, 1865

Julie' 1.] SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. 143

allow your name" to- be added to the' Commission "as President of the Society of Antiquaries. " I have the honour to be, " My Lord, " Your Lordship's obedient servant, " HENRY COLE, Secretary. " The Right Honourable Earl Stanhope, F.R.S. " President of the Society of Antiquaries, " or the President for the time being."

The ballot opened at a quarter to nine and closed- at half-past nine, Avhen the following candidates were declared to be duly elected:— Henry Hockey Burnell, Esq. Richard Makilwaine Phipson, Esq. William Johnson, Esq. John Eliot Hodgkih, Esq. Lieutenant Henry Brackenbury, R.A. Rev. James Gerald Joyce. Richard Henry Wood, Esq. , Charles Baker, Esq.

GEORGE MANNERS, Esq. , F.S.A., exhibited a very interesting collection of Autographsj illustrated by engravings

Thanks were returned to Mr. Manners for this exhibition.

Thursday, June 15th, 1865.

J. WINTER JONES, Esq. V.P. in the Chair.

The following Presents were announced and Thanks ordered to be returned to the Donors :——

From B. B. Woodward, Esq., F S A.—A Full Copy of the Will of King Henry the Eighth, in' the handwriting of John Orodsalve. Manuscript on paper. 8vo. From the Author. —-Remarks upon a Clogg Almanack, in a letter addressed to the Editor of " The Reliquary " By J. Barnard Davis, Esq. , M D. , F S A. FRe- printed from " The Reliquary" for April, 1865 ] 8vo. [London], 1865! From the Editor, Samuel Tymms, Esq. , F S A.—The East Anglian. Vol. 2, No. 52. June. 8vo. Lowestoft, 1865

From the Author;—Memoir of John Stearne, founder and first president of tho College of Physicians, Ireland. By T. W. Belcher, M D. Dublin. 8vo. Dub- lin, 1865. From the Editor, John Bruce, Esq. , F S A. —Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reign of Charles I. 1635, preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office. 8vo. London, 1865.

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. INSEAD, on 09 Oct 2018 at 00:56:27, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950797300006594 144:• PROCEEDINGS OF THE [1865,

From the Royal Institute of British Architects.—Sessional Papers, 1864-65. Part 3,. No. 3. 4to. London, 1865. From Earl Stanhope, P.S.A.—Five, Tracts by Solomon Lowe, bound together in a volume :— 1. An Appendix to Grammar, 1719. 2. Latin Rudiments for the use of.Prince William', 1728. 2nd Edition. 3. Italian Rudiments for the use of Prince William, 1728. 2nd Edition. 4. A Critique on the Etymology of the Westminster Grammar, 1723. 5. Mnemonics delineated, 1737. 8vo._ London, 1719—1737. ' From the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archasological Society.—Proceedings and Papers. Vol. 5, 'New Series. No. 46.. 8vo. Dublin, 1864. From the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool.—Proceedings during the ' Fifty-third Session, 1863-64. No. 18. 8vo. London, 1864. , From the Author.—Pre-Historic Times, as illustrated by ancient remains, and the manners and customs of. modern savages.. By John. Lubbock, F.R.S., F.S.A. 8vo. London, 1865.- ' From the Editor, W. Bickford Smith, Esq.—The History of the Religion of Ancient Britain from the Earliest Times to the Norman Conquest. By George Smith, LL.D., F.A.S. Third Edition. 8vo. London, 1865. From the Author.—Notes illustrative of an ancient inscription on a Brass Plate in Bromley Church, Kent. Compiled by D. Benhain, Esq. 4to. Bromley, 1861. From the Royal United Service Institution.—Their Journal. Vol. 8, Appendix. 8vo. London, 1865. [Completing the volume.] From the Author.—The Sutton-Dudleys of England and the Dudleys of Massachu- setts in New England. By George Adlard.. 8vo., London, 1862. ^ From the Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association. Their Publications as follows:— 1. The Monastery of Austin Friars. By Thomas Wakeman, 1859. 2. Notes on the Ancient Domestic Residences of Pentre-Bach, &c. By Octavius Morgan and Thomas Wakeman. 1860. 3. Notes on the Ancient Domestic Residences of Tre-Owen, Killwch, and Tho Waen. By Octavius' Morgan and Thomas Wakeman. 1861. 4. Notices of Pencoyd Castle and Langstone. By Octavius Morgan and Thomas Wakeman. :1864.. All 8vo. Newport..

Special Thanks were given, to B. B. Woodward; Esq., F.S.A., Librarian to the Queen, for his donation of a copy oEthe Will of King Henry the Eighth.

Charles Baker, Esq., Lieutenant Henry Brackenbury, K.A., the Rev. William George Clark, M.A., Henry Hockey Burnell, Esq., and Bunnell Lewis, Esq., were admitted Fellows..

At 8#45 the Ballot was opened for the election of a Member of Council, in the room. of. the late Henry Christy, Esq., and the Chairman nominated as Scrutators of the Ballot the Kev. Thomas Hugo and George Chapman, Esq.

CLARENCE HOPPER, Esq.,. exhibited*two curious engravings of

a so-called " Eye-Catechism," which are described in the following extract from a letter to John Bruce, Esq., F.S.A.:— " The two very curious engravings, which I forward you for exhibition at the Society of Antiquaries, are, I believe, unique, as I cannot learn that any others are extant, either amongst the collection of.Prints in the British Museum, or in the hands of private' collectors. Somewhere about twenty years since, on the building of. a new Roman Catholic church at Beading upon the ruins of the abbey, a small chapel situate near the grammar school was dis- mantled, and amongst the furniture and fittings cleared away as lumber and for firewood were these two prints, entitled ' An Eye Catechism,' which owe their preservation to having been pasted upon oak panel. They were consigned to a cellar, and were slightly damaged when I purchased them. Their date is 1688. Their being dedicated by permission to the Prince of Wales by J. Dymock, a clergyman, is worthy of note, and it might not be uninteresting to investigate who this J. Dymock was."

J. Y. AKEKMAN, Esq., F.S.A., Local Secretary for Berk- shire, communicated the following letter on Roman Remains at Abingdon:— .'.;•' '" I have the honour to announce to the Society the discovery within this town of remains which afford undoubted proofs of the permanent occupation of the site of Abingdon by the Romans,' a fact for proofs of. which I have, long sought until the present occasion. •.-'•• " During the past week the workmen engaged in digging the, foundation of a house at the north end of Fore Street, St. Helen's, have laid bare some massive foundations, among which the well known herring-bone masonry is conspicuous. A few vases and several coins were also discovered. " I shall continue to watch the work of excavation, and hope. in due time to report fully on this interesting discovery."

AUGUSTUS W. FRANKS, Esq. Director, exhibited the remains of a small Roman Urn or Cup of grey earthenware together with several First Brass coins of early emperors which were found within it at Wimbledon.

PATRICK O'CALLAGHAN, Esq., LL.D., communicated an auto- • graph Letter from Cosmo de' Medici to theDuke. of Milan, being a certificate of the good services rendered to. him by Philippo de' Eiccardi of Lodi. This document was as follows:— Illuxme p'nceps et Rme Dne post Recofn &c. Ld. spettabile Cauagliere Mess' filippo de ricchard' de Lodi e stato qui nro Chapitano, et del suo oficio se ghouvernato co ghrandissima VOL. III. ' L

justitiaj-per.forma che in q'sta cipta a auuto ghrandissinio hoii et to'nandosene al.presente.acchasa.ini pare mio debito'farnoto la sua virtu alia vra Extia et ad quella racchomadarlo p'che mi pare huomo di cliui la vra Illustra Signioria possa fare buon chonto. Kacchomadomi. alia vfa Ex"a la quale. l'altissimo diofelicemete conseryi. Floretie die xxiiij Martii M CCCC lv. • * , . Vfo s'uidore Chosimo de medici. ) The letter is folded up and sealed with wax placed under a! slip of paper, and impressed with an antique gem, an imperial' head. The slip is so arranged as to leave the letter open. The address is written partly on the slip, partly on the.back of the letter, and is as follows:— • ". . Illuxmo p'incipi et E,mo Diio Diio f. ' ' ' Sf. Vicecomiti Duci Mediolani Papie . Anglerie que comiti ac Chremone dno, drio meo singularissimo.' Francesco Sforza married , in , 1441. .Bianca Maria natural daughter of Filippo Maria. Viscohti Duke of Milan. Pie was made Count ofPavia (Papia) 1447, crowned Duke of Milan in' 1450, and died 8 March 1466. • :

• CHAKLES S. PEECEVAL, Esq. F.S.A. gave the following . description of some documents exhibited by the mayor and corporation of Coventry through J. J. HOWABD, Esq. F.S.A.:—• "Mr. Howard has again obliged the .Society by an exhibition' of documents from the archives of the Corporation of Coventry, whose valuable collection of charters he has for some time been: occupied in arranging. On the present occasion he exhibits three, deeds, the first of which is a Letter of Agnesj widow of Richard Frebern of Coventry, making William Frebern of Coventry her attorney,, to put Nicholas Michel, Henry Clerk, John de Pounfret, Nicholas de Baddesleye chaplain,' Ealph de Oneleye chaplain, and John de Manby clerk, in seisin of. two shops with the appurtenances in Coventry, '.'in Vico Comitis, prout in cartl,' &c. Dated at Coventry, July '3, 35 Edw. III.. Seal, circular, ^ inch in diameter. Subject, three' shields with points meeting in the' centre. Upper shield, three beasts, apparently bulls; Dexter, A fess within a bordure engrailed, charged with roundels; Sinister, Barry of six. There is no legend, butvan elegant sprig of foliage is carried round a double circle occupying the place of the legend, and interrupted by the three shields. A beautiful seal, but a poor impression: A • " Ihave been unable to ascertain sufficient particulars as to the family of this lady to explain the three coats'with'which her • seal is adorned. , The following memoranda, may however lead

at some future time to their identification, and to the explanation of their juxta-position. . • ' , . " Richard Frebern, the husband of Agnes, is probably identical with a person of the same name who occurs as Mayor of Coventry in 1350.* What his arms were I do not know. In the next generation a Thomas Frebern died seised of Whitley near Coven- try, then called for the first time a manor, and left Alice his. daughter and heir ten years of age;f This was in 1379 or 1380^ and three years afterwards, upon a suit relating, to. the title to the manor, it was found that this Thomas had sold, it to one Thomas or Geoffrey de Whitley, who had conveyed it; to John Botoner and two others, to whom it was adjudged. J These particulars are from Dugdale's History of Warwickshire^ and it is to. be re- gretted that' they are not more ample. • I do not find the name of Frebern elsewhere, and have been quite foiled .in my endea- vour to trace the former proprietors of the Whitley property, which I was"anxious to do, in the' nope.that.it might turn out that this Agnes was in some way connected therewith.- '•.•"• . "In the Roll of Arms temp. Edw. II. I find that Sir John de Westone (under Wilts and Hants) ' bore, Argent, a fess sable within a bordure gules bezante'e ; and that Sir. John his son dif-" ferenced this. coat, by engrailing the bordure. • This blazon agrees with that ;of • the dexter, shield in Agnes de. Frebem's seal.' The. sinister shield bears, Barry of six; so common a coat in various tinctures that nothing1 can be concluded from it in the absence of evidence as to the. pedigree. : The uppermost. shield bears. three animals, probably bulls,passant. Vincent's Ordinary gives, Argent; three bulls passant sable, for the name of Striklewey. or Stickler wey, a very uncommon designation.. Lands hi Staffordshire called Stivichall or Stychehall are mentioned in connection with Whitley in the Record 6 Ric! II., cited above, and also in the Inquisitio post mortem of Jocosa, widow of: Sir Adam Pes.hale, 8 Hen. V., number 79, who appears to have died seised of •Whitley and Stychehall. It ;is not. impossible that Sticklewey may be a corrupt form of a local surname derived from the last-? mentioned place.... . : •. - ,: : . "..The combination of several shields of arms .on one seal' is to be. regarded as an early method of marshalling arms of alliance. There ,are; several examples of, this kind, as the well-known seals of Elizabeth de Clare, and of her- daughter .of the same name,. wife of John Lord Bardolf. .In. the first volume of the Topographer and Genealogist,' p. 219, will be

* He witnessed a deed of that date, of Henry le Fleut' and Mariota his wife. See ,also in the Coventry Archives. . '. , t Esch. 3 R. II. num. 25. . ' ' ' ; t Plao. eorara R. T. Pasch. 6 R. II. rot. 20. Each. C R. II. num. 168. § Vol. i. p. 211. '.'.•• : " •' - 2

found'the seal of Matilda de Lascelfes,: 1324, which exhibits three shields in triangle similar to the example under discussion; In this instance her own coat of Lascelles is in chief: that of her first husband Filliol on the sinister, that of her second husband Hilton on the dexter side. ' The arrangement may possibly be the same in the seal of Agnes Frebern. The only other seal of three shields in triangle which I have lately noticed throws no addi-* tional light on the subject. I allude to that of Sir Thomas de Ingoldesthorpe,' (Sigilla Antiqua, first series, pi. 6,) where each of the shields is charged with the cross engrailed of Ingoldes^ thorpe. It is with regret that I am compelled to leave the illustration of the interesting seal of Agnes Frebern in this unsatisfac- tory state. • • • . • ' ' •• The second document is a charter without date, but clearly . of the ;reigri'of Henry III., or prior to the eighteenth of Edward I; The following is an abstract'of it:— .•..•; -••'-' Charter of -R6bcrf de Deyvill, (Robertas de Deyvilla,) whereby he grants to David le Mound de Wytele half a y'ardland; with the appurtenances, in the territory of Bugghinghe, which Robert le Juvenebonde held; to be held of the grantor and his heirs to David arid his' assigns'; together with all liberties, &c^ ' Ita quod idem Dauid et heredes sui edificabunt super eandem , terram et fructum illius terre apponent • super earn.' Rendering four shillings a-year for all service; With warranty to David and his heirs. Witnesses, Richard de Bokirvitt, Robert de Stokes; Henry de Brinkelowe, Thomas'de Stok', Richard and William de Pynnele, William son of Jordan de Witele, Mylo Gherbodej Geoffrey de Acleberge, Robert his brother, and others. "Seal circular, l|-in. diameter. Subject: A straight-topped pointed shield bearing fretty. Legend: + SIGILLVM SECRETI! Green wax. • •' • • ; ; " Attached by-a slip of the parchment to the last.deed is this instrument:— . • ' • '; " Letter of William, son of David de-Witeli, making. Robert de Williat, or Richard, his own-son, his attorneys, to put Robert " de Stoke or his attorney in seisin of all lands and tenements, rents1, and other appurtenances of the fee of Deyvil-in- Stoke and without; prout in carta, &c. Dated at Witele near Covehtre, Monday next after the feast of Purification B. V. M: 25' Edw.' I. • ; " The principal instrument is not in the usual form. Were it .not for the clause of warranty to David and his heirs, it might be concluded that a lease for the life of David and not a feoffinent in fee was intended, the words of procreation being absent in the Habendum, which is to David-and his assigns. The condition also to build on trie land, and ' apponere fructum super earn,' would favour the interpretation that the. lesser estate only was: to pass. The land, however, seems to have descended to David's

sons, asmay be concluded from the second instrument. -The condition above noticed is singularly, like the common covenant in modern agricultural leases, that the tenant shall consume all straw, &c. on the premises. I do not see what other interpretation can. be put upon it, yet am unwilling to believe that such good hus- bandry was recognised at so early a date. , ' ' " The lands ofBugghinge, now Biggin,near Coventry, belonged in the 7th Edw. I. to the prior of Coventry, from whom I believe they came to the corporation of that city. Milo Gherbod, a witness to this charter, is mentioned by Dugdale, Warwickshire, yol. i. p. 203, as living 34 Hen. III.,, and holding lands in Whitley and Stoke, as did also Walter d'Eyvill and Kobert de Stoke at the same time. • " The name of Robert de Deyvill is not given in the early rolls of arms as bearing the fretty coat. Dugdale mentions (ubi, supra) that one Thomas de Stoke, of Stotfold in Staffordshire, who-descended from this place (Stoke), bore, Fretty, on a canton a boar's head couped. This family of Stoke, holding lands under Dey ville, probably took the fret with a difference, by way of what have .been called arms of patronage. ' \ " • • . "Mr. Howard also exhibits a photograph of a sculptured stone recently dug up at Coventry. " It bears three shields of the form usual in the fifteenth century. •;} "The first,,on the dexter side, bears a paschal lamb, andin.chief two gloves between the letters g and T or G. " The centre shield is quarterly. In the first quarter three objects resembling the triple crowns, in the arms of the London Company of Drapers. The second quarter is much defaced. It seems to contain a bird holding a branch of a tree. The third and fourth are two monograms or merchant's marks. " The sinister shield contains the name E a f A d a 1 in Gothic characters, with a billet or similar object in base. The name puts one in mind of Robin Hood's companion Allan a-dale. • " I have no information as to the precise place where this stone was found. The devices seem to commemorate different members of Coventry mercantile guilds, possibly glovers "and mercers. The style of the decorations reminds me of the series of shields of emblems and arms set up on the battlement of the chancel of Wisbeach church."

The EARL OF ENNISKILLEN, Local Secretary for Ireland, ' exhibited, by permission of the Lord Archbishop of Armagh, four ancient Irish Bells from.'his Grace's collection, which were described by A. W. Franks, Esq. Director, as follows:— .-'•" The; four Bells which the'Lord Primate of ..Ireland is .good enough to exhibit this evening' belong' to a very interesting class of antiquities.' Such bells are among the earliest ecclesiastical

relics connected with the British Islands, and they seem to be peculiar to' these islands. The bells are usually quadrangular and made of iron slightly coated with bronze, but sometimes are round and oval, arid occasionally formed of bronze alone. They are presumed^ to have been hand-bells, and to have been used by the early missionaries and eremitical ' bishops of the British church to summon their followers to prayer. From veneration to their original owners, they were preserved in the churches wh.ich these early missionaries had founded. They thus became relics c>f considerable sanctity and esteem, and were used in admi- nistering oaths. The care of them was generally entrusted to some family in whom the keepership of the bell was vested, and who received a small present when an oath had to be' adminis- tered, or the bell was carried to some sick person to aid in their cure. • • '. .•'-.'; ". " An account of the four bells now exhibited was communicated by the Eev; •William Beeves, D.D; to the Koyal Irish Academy Dec! 14, 1863, from which some of the following particulars have been' derived:— • •'• ; . • . . - . " 1.. The Clog Mogue or Bell of St. Mogue. Three fragments 6nly of the bell have been preserved, two of them attached to the shrine or case in which it was contained, the other a separate piece. _ They are of iron. The case is now in a very mutilated state: it is represented in the accompanying woodcut (fig. 1)." It

"••' • . ORNAMENTS OF THE CLOG MOGUE.' FULL SIZE.. :,

is formed of four plates of brass which have.been joined at the angles by rounded mouldings, of which only one remains. To 'the front have been attached silver ornaments consisting-of bands

Pig. 1. Fig. 2.

THE CLOG JIOGUE. THE BARRY GARIAH.

Fig. i.

Fig. 3.

A MONAGHAN BELL. THE CLOG-NA-FULLAH.

IRISH BELLS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ABGHIUSHOP OF ARMAGH.

forming margins to the panel (see woodcut)." The pattern'of each portion is different.' A straight band of silver is.in the centre, and above have probably, been a crucifix and two figuresof the same metal. Of the latter only one remains. The front plate is 9in. high and 6f in. wide.at the base! < The sides are 4Jin. wide.' The Clog ••Mogue was formerly preserved in the family of Magoverari in the county of Cavan; who were hereditary keepers of the relic which was carefully rolled up in rags, and only exposed when. it was required in the parish of Templeport or the neighbourhood-for the administration of oaths. The legend of the bell is that it was placed by St. Kilian on the floating stone which had conveyed St. Mogue as a child across the water to be baptized,'and by the latter was left to the parish in which he had resided. St. Aedh, Moedoc, or Mogue was born about A.D. 555, and. died A.D. 625 after founding'a number of churches both in Wales and -Ireland. He was the first bishop of Ferns. : • • • ' ' ^ i "2. The: Clog-na-fidldli, or Bell of-Blood (fig. 4), made of a long sheet of metal bent into the shape of the bell, and riveted down the narrow sides. • It is a quadrangular bell of. iron; .partially coated with bronze both within and without, lOJin: high,- 5|in. wide at the upper part, and 8in. by 6in. at the mouth: the handle is lost. • "This bell is said to be -one' of the fifty consecrated bells 1 bestowed by St. Patrick on the Conriaught churches. : It-had •been kept at Fenagh, and afterwards at Mohill by its hereditary keepers, the O'Rorkes.- It was, like other bells, used in adminis- tering Oaths;'and in:recovering- lost property. .-The person who •wished so to employ it deposited a small sum of money, and swore,on the bell to return it, and. not to allow it to touch the ground, or let it pass out of human hands, till replaced.. • ' ? 3. The Barry Gariah (fig. 2 ), a bronze quadrangular bell made by casting ; • 7f in. high,' -7in.- by 4,f in. wide at the mouth. The •handle is preserved; a portion of one side is wanting.'••• It is con- jectured to have belonged to St. Berach of Termonbarry, co. "Koscommon. '• ;•,::.., . , > '••• " 4. A bronze quadrangular bell made by casting (fig. 3), 7^ih. '•high, 6£in. by 5in. at the mouth. • The greater part of the handle •and a part of one side are now wanting. : It belonged to one'o'f the old churches in the county of Monaghan. ... •;

1 KICHARD ALMACK, Esq. F S.A. laid. before the Society some documents relating to Mary Queen of Scots,- accompanied by remarks, which, together with the documents in question, will be published in the Archseologia. . • .. : . . i

JOHN HENRY PARKER, Esq. F.S.A. communicated, some remarks on recent explorations at Koine. • .Mr. Parker gave an account of the formation of ah Aruhai-

dlogical • Society among the English residents at Rome, with a view to a more complete study of the various remains to be found in that city, both Classical and Medieval, and which had led to the exploration of various sites with zeal. This scheme, had. not, however, met with the approval of the papal, authorities on account of the dissatisfaction expressed by many of the members at the wholesale restoration or rather destruction-which is going on at Rome in.the ancient buildings. ' . . •. Among the buildings which had been explored Mr. Parker especially noticed the ancient church of S. Pudenziana, respecting which he made the following observations:— . "This is the earliest Christian church of the consecration of .which we have any record, and it is called the 'mother, of all churches,! in an inscription in the nave near the door. The present church, on a level with the street, has been several times rebuilt, or partially rebuilt, the last time in the seventeenth century by the Cajetani family, who built a splendid family chapel at the side of the nave, in the pagan taste of that period, and paganised the nave itself, so that the first appearance of the in- terior, of the church is very disappointing. The nave had previously been rebuilt in the twelfth century., and some singular marble columns of that period are preserved, built into square piers, but left visible in front; a fine doorway of (that period was also preserved and replaced, with a series, of sculptures over it, representing the Holy Lamb in the centre, and the heads of the -four children of. Pudens the senator, Pudentiana, Praxedes, Hermes, and Novatus; with Latin verse inscriptions round them. . The. campanile of the twelfth century is also preserved, and is one of the finest in Rome. The choir, with the apse and aisles, • or side chapels, is considerably earlier'. On the apse is a very fine mosaic picture of Christ and the. Apostles, each .in. front of •his ddor^ or gate, with Pudentiana and Praxedes in the backr Aground holding .crowns of . martyrdom of .almost Etruscan character. The scene intended to be represented is the heavenly Jerusalem, according to the Apocalypse, with the buildings of the city at the. back. This mosaic is of the fourth century; the .buildings are those of ancient Rome, and agree exactly -with a sculpture of the same, subject on a sarcophagus of the fourth century in the Lateran Museum. A portion of an inscription • remains 'on the side wall, 'with the.name of Pope Siricius, who •was Pope A.D. 385-398. .The outer wall of the north aisle has another inscription upon it, recording that it was rebuilt in the eleventh century; it is of herringbone-work.. • On the exterior of the apse, instead of the semi-circular or polygonal wall which might naturally be expected, is a high and wide fiat wall, evidently part of a house of importance, of that kind of brickwork .known to have been in use in the ..first century of the Christian

era, and called imperial brickwork,-.perhaps the finest brickwork in the world. In this wall are three large windows of the same •period blocked up with brickwork' so much of the same character that it cannot be later than the fourth century. As the back of the apse must nearly touch the inside of' these windows, it appears almost certain that they were blocked up at the time the apse was made, and from this it follows that the hall of the house of the Senator Pudehs, the father of St. Piidentiana, had.been .used.as a place of assembly by the primitive Christians, and afterwards converted into a church, i. • ; • ; " But during the times of persecution it was necessary for the Christians to conceal their places of meeting; and" in this instance they used a room underneath the hall. In most of the great houses of ancient Rome there were one or two stories below the level of the street, and in these all the earliest churches were made, as at S. Clemente and S. Silvestro. The house of the Senator Pudens was a large and extensive palace, of which .Somerset House in the Strand gives the best idea to Londoners. The lowest story consisted of cellars only, but the story above that; still below the level of the street, contained the primitive church. This primitive church is recorded by Ba'ronius in his 'Annals of the Church' to have been consecrated by Pope Pius I.; A.D. 150. He .gives a letter of; that prelate; saying, 'I have made a church in the baths of Novatus, and' have dedicated it in honour of his sister Pudentiaria- the Martyr.' ' Novatus was the son' of Pudens and Claudia, and it is recorded of him that he made thermal or baths in his father's house, which thenceforward went by the name of the ' Baths of Novatus.' .This.was about •A.D. 90. Under the present church, and • extending beyond its limits, is a series of vaulted chambers of .brickwork of the first century, with various alterations.- One chamber has "evidently been made into a bath-room in a house previously existing, the alteration of inserting flues in the walls being very evident; and .plastering. and panelling of the end of the first century| cor- responding with the Baths of Titus and other works of that period, covers both the old walls and" the alterations. Another part has evidently been the nave of a church,, made out of the •.bathrrooms. '. These:chambers are all filled up with loose dry earth, evidently thrown in through the windows, which are high up, like clerestory windows, in order to get light from the area.' .In one "corner, of., what appears evidently to have-been the nave of a church is a hot-air flue remaining in the wall. The heads of the. arches.are visible.on both" sides, nearly .on ,a level with the earth with which it is filled up, and the doorways are so nearly filled up entirely, that it was with great difficulty they could be passed through until some of the earth had been cleared away. The

arches are of imperial brickwork,'agreeing well inicharacter with the second century. — .' • : '. " It is mentioned incidentally in the life of Raphaelthe painter .that in his time (the sixteenth century) the brigands made use of the crypts of the churches as hiding-places, and.the pontifical authorities ordered them to be filled up with earth.in order to •keep out the brigands. The earth and.rubbish in this crypt has every, appearance. of having been thrown in at. that period; . I applied to the authorities for permission to empty out the earth, but after they had agreed to. grant it the Pope refused to sign /the order. \ : ' " The.authenticity of the letter of Pius I., and the veracity of the Annals of Baronius, has been denied by the sceptics of the last and present century,both Protestant and Romanist, but the archiB- ological evidence appears to confirm his statements. The truth of the Lives of'the Popes, by Anastasius, the librarian of the ninth century, and the authenticity of the pontifical registers which he gives, have also been disputed by. the same persons, and all the legends of the Church are' considered by them as mere fables. But the archaeology of Rome appears to bear out the truth of Anastasius in every instance, and the Church legends seem to be generally founded on true'History, though added-td and corrupted by pious frauds ;' they should neither be .received as history, nor rejected. altogether as fables ; they are foften useful in elucidating real history.".•'•. , : ; : ' • Mr. Parker added various particulars .respecting the Early Christian architecture and the ancient topography of Rome, , especially the palace of the Empress Helena and the church of Santa Croce, made out of one of the halls of that palace by the Emperor Constantine, who added ah apse to it, which blocks up some of the arches of the original hall:' this was a parallelogram with arches pn all the four sides, and probably a lean-to aisle all round. The original nave was so wide that in the twelfth century it was altered into a nave and two aisles. At S. Clemente, from the same cause, the old nave has been altered into a nave and one aisle, also in the twelfth century, and the same thing- has been done in. other churches in Rome. • ... : • • In illustration of his remarks Mr. Parker exhibited a number of plans, drawings, and photographs. ; ' •

Thanks were ordered to be returned for these communications.

The Society then adjourned to Thursday, November 16th. >