Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

THE CHURCH MR. URBAN,—I have read with much pleasure Mr. Parker's interesting communication in your last Number regarding this place. I assure you that I am much gratified with the interest your correspondent expresses in it, and grateful for the very friendly sentiments conveyed towards myself.

I had been hoping to write ere this to you on the subject, in order to mention the modification which my views on the church have received from later enquiries and investigations, and almost wish that I had done so before Mr. Parker's letter was published. You will be surprised to hear that in almost all points my recent examination of documentary evidence, and of the remains themselves, have led me to concur with Mr. Parker in the belief that the disinterred fragment is the original foundation (whether Roman or Saxon may form a reasonable subject of after-enquiry), and that the present church is a re-building out of the materials of the structure of 633. I agree with him that the burial-place of the Queen is in the opening forming the original porch, though the true place of her burial was on the other side of the wall, inside the present church, where the " aquilonalis porticus" origin

The body is elsewhere said by Goscelinus to have been exhumed from under the pacement of the church.

statement. The subject had been brought forward by Mr. Freeman at the private meeting of the Society, held immediately before the final public meeting; and after considerable debate, a resolution had been agreed to, the words of which I quoted, and called upon the Institute not to leave Worcester without expressing publicly what they had agreed upon privately. Mr. Freeman had been obliged to leave Worcester as soon as the business was settled, as he considered, by carrying his resolution; and knowing this, it appeared to me to become my duty not to allow it to be passed over in silence at the public meeting.

OF LYMINGE.

ally was. The foundations of this porch I have actually discovered under the floor of the church, formed of the same concrete as the apsidal building itself, and the singular disturbance of the wall and ground inside mark clearly the place where the priest Radulfus disinterred the remains.

In one point I differ both from Mr. Parker and from Mr. Bloxam, to whom long since I pointed out the error. "Porticus," in the writers of the seventh and eighth centuries, never means aisle, but always porch. When the porches of the older churches were covered and formed into aisles, carried along the original external wall, then the word became equivalent to aisle. In Bede the word always means porch; and Isidore of Seville, the highest authority on the meaning of such words in 600-800, gives only the ancient meaning. In fact, it was by the ancient councils (especially of Nantes) made unlawful to bury in churches, the porch and the outer wall being alone permitted for purposes of burial. Hence the translations of sainted relics into the churches which occur so frequently in the earliest period. You will find the fullest confirmation of this statement in the great work of Martene, De Antiq. Eccl. Ritibus, bk. iii. cap. xiii. § 10. This rule was specially observed in Eng

land at this period, the Capitulars of Archbishop Theodore, A.D. 668, enjoining "in ecclesia sanctificata nulli mortui sepeliantur." Except upon this supposition, Bede's description of the burialplace of Ethelbert would be utterly incomprehensible. When Mr. Parker speaks of the "mediæval" use of the word, he should distinguish between the two periods. Regarding the use in the second, he is undoubtedly correct, but as undoubtedly in error regarding the first.

My only second point of disagreement is regarding the exact period of the rebuilding, in which, I think, I rather misled Mr. Parker by the mention of Lanfranc. The anonymous writer quoted by Goscelinus, and who wrote some time before 1089, describes the restoration thus:

"Sic ille locus destitutus est quousque in manus Archiepiscoporum Cantiæ venit. Quem reparatum ministris dignantur quatenus Deo ac dilectis sibi virginibus Eadburgæ et Miltruda jugi

devotionis servirent."

Now this transfer of the church and monastery to the archbishops took place in 965, in the days of Archbishop Dunstan; and between this and some subsequent year the restoration of the church took place. Both this writer and Goscelinus suppose the present church to be something more than a few years old; and had it not been so, Goscelinus might have refuted his adversary merely by telling him that Lanfranc had only just built the church, to whom (as he affirms) the name of Mildred was utterly unknown. Both writers point to an earlier period of restoration; and the injury which the church had suffered from the Danes, as well as the necessity of enlarging and adapting it to parochial use, would make it incumbent upon the archbishops to begin the work without delay. No one would have been more likely to do this than Dunstan, who is described by Florence of Worcester as having induced the King (Edgar) to " renew and endow the destroyed" (or, as another reading

has it, the " desolated")" churches of God, and to establish more than forty monasteries." His incumbency was from 960 to 988, which gave him ample time for such works. The only known works of Lanfranc, which are carefully enumerated by his cotemporary, Milo Crispinus, monk of the abbey of Bec, are the cathedral and palace of Canterbury, the cathedral of Rochester, the hospital church of St. Gregory, and the abbey of St. Albans, together with residence-houses of stone on many of his manors. These were mostly built of squared Caen stone, of which he says,—

"Et quod mirum admodum sit, de Cadomo ubi Abbas exstitit, velivolis navibus per mare transvehi faciebat quadros lapides ad ædificandum."Vita Lanfranci.

A style of building very unlike this at Lyminge, which singularly resembles the work supporting the mound of Tamworth Castle, to which Mr. Bloxam gives the date of 914. I think it very probable that the grant of Athelstan in 964, "consentiente Dunstano Archiepis copo," was made in order to carry out this restoration. The laws of Edmund in 944 made such a work imperative on every bishop,-"Episcopus omnis suis ipsius sumptibus domum Dei instaurato," &c.; while the laws of Knut in 1032 shew that the state of church building must have been then very advanced, four kinds of churches being there enumerated, the "capitalis," "mediocris,"

[ocr errors]

minor," and "campestris" ecclesiæ. This of Lyminge held undoubtedly the highest rank described, as it is as a "basilica,”—as the "locus beatissimæ Virginis Maria," &c. The account of the church in Domesday, referring as it does to the state of the manor and place in the days of Edward the Confessor, corroborates the view that the church was already restored when Lanfranc came into possession of the manor, which was not on his accession, but when he succeeded in regaining his twenty-five manors about 1076, after the trial on Penenden Heath. I could indicate other grounds for my view, derived from a

more critical examination of the treatise of Goscelinus, from which I made further extracts in a recent visit to the British Museum. Unfortunately it has never been published. I fear, however, that I have been already tediously prolix, but I think Mr. Parker will not be displeased to learn that my views have come so near his own, and we shall both be ready to acknowledge that such pleasant meetings as we had in East Kent in July are not unproductive of useful results.-I am, &c., R. C. JENKINS. P.S. I have not alluded to the word

THE PAPER CURRENCY MR. URBAN,-As we hear and read so much now about the paper currency which the war now raging in North America has obliged the Northern States to resort to, perhaps it may not be uninteresting to your readers to have a description of some of the paper currency of the States used during the War of Independence, towards the close of the last century.

Some years since, an American friend of mine presented me with a few of these notes, which I now proceed to describe. They are all printed on whiteybrown paper, and the earliest in date is 44 inches long, by 24 inches wide, and was issued by the State of Maryland. Round the two sides and the top is an ornamental border of foliage and scrollwork, intermixed with which on the top is the name of the State in Roman capitals. On the dexter side, within the border," Half of a dollar," in a mixture of Roman and Old-English capitals, and the arms, crest, supporters, and motto of Lord Baltimore, the lord proprietor of the province. On the sinister side, "Half of a dollar," in small type. The body of the bill is as follows:

"No. 2925. Half dollar.

“THES ENDENTED BELL Of HALF A DOLLAR shall entitle the BEARER hereof to receive Bills of Exchange, payable in LONDON, or gold and silver, at the rate of four shillings and sixpence sterling per dollar, for the said bill, according to the directions of

[blocks in formation]

On the back is an impression of two leaves (probably intended for tobacco), round which is "Half a dollar, equal to 2s. 3d. sterling. Annapolis. Printed by A. C. and F. Green. "Tis death to counterfeit."

The second specimen is one of the same State for one dollar. It is of the same size, tenor, and date, and signed and countersigned by the same persons as the half-dollar bill; but the border is different, displaying on the dexter side bunches of grapes or corn cobs; and the Baltimore arms are in the centre of the bill instead of on one side; and above the arms are two hands pointing to a globe: the number is 5,982. The back has also an impression of leaves, but differing in form from those on the former bill. The printing, however, is the same, except that Annapolis" is omitted on the back.

The third bill is one of the same State of Maryland for six dollars, which has several differences, that shew it to have been issued after the Declaration of Independence. It is little more than three inches long, and has a border all round. At the top the words "six dollars," engraved in the border, twice, in engrossing and small Roman capitals, and the same words and "Maryland"

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

"This bill, of Six Dollars, shall entitle the bearer hereof to receive gold or silver, at the rate of four shillings and sixpence sterling per dollar for the said bill; according to a resolve of the Convention of Maryland, held at the City of Annapolis, the 14th day of August, MDCCLXXVI.”

(Signed) "T. GASSAWAY."

The Baltimore arms are now discarded, and the bill is not payable by bills on London, but it is still payable in gold or silver.

On the reverse is a round object, which may be a globe or a shield; with "SUB CLYPEO" in a garter, surrounded by "Six dollars, equal to 27s. sterling. Annapolis. Printed by F. Green," and an ornamental border.

Of the same date as the last, I have a similar bill of the same State for half a dollar, countersigned N. Heawood.

The fifth bill is one of the State of New Jersey. It is somewhat smaller than the others, and has an ornamental border, containing on the dexter side the words "fifteen shillings;" the same words on the top and at the sinister side, all in letters of different characters. Within the border is again, in Roman capitals,―

"FIFTEEN SHILLINGS. No. 5,853.

"THIS BILL, by an Ordinance of the provincial Congress, shall pass current in all payments, within the Colony of New Jersey, for FIFTEEN SHILLINGS, Proclamation Money. Dated the 20th day of February, 1776."

FIFTEEN Shillings.
(In red ink.)

[ocr errors]

(Signed) HENDK. FISHER.

JOHN COVENHOVING.
JOHN DENNIS."

In the lower dexter corner the King's arms, and on the right of each signature a crown (in red). Do the three crowns punningly express the value of the bill, fifteen shillings, or are they merely intended to represent seals ?

On the back of this bill there is also an impression of a leaf, which I take to

be intended for tobacco, within a neat border, and the words, "Fifteen shillings, Burlington, in New Jersey. Printed by Isaac Collins: 1776."

The terrific threat of death for counterfeiting does not appear on this New Jersey bill.

We have next a bill of the United This is 3 Colonies, for six dollars. inches long, and nearly 3 inches wide. Its tenor is :

[blocks in formation]

On the dexter side within a circle, on which is "Perseverando," a landscape of water, land, and trees; the whole surrounded by a border, in which is "The United Colonies," "Continental Currency," and "Six Dollars," in various characters. On the back, a leaf like a horse-chesnut leaf, with only "Six Dollars. Philadelphia. Printed by Hall and Selley, 1776."

No. 7 is a bill of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for eight shillings, of the following tenor :

"Eight Shillings. No. 12,510.

"This bill shall pass current for eight shillings, according to an Act of General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed the twentieth day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven. Dated the tenth day of April, A.D. 1777. 66 EIGHT SHILLINGS. "W. KENLY.

B. BETTERTON."

At the dexter lower corner a shield, containing in chief a ship sailing, in the centre a plough above three wheatsheafs, all within a circle, round which is "AGRICULT. CUM MERC."

On the reverse, a representation of a cultivated plain, the sun dispersing a storm, represented by clouds and rain; and the words "Eight Shillings." "Phil.

adelphia." "Printed by John Dunlap, 1777." And, "To counterfeit is death." The last of these representatives of money is one of Pennsylvania, for ninepence. Its size about three inches by two inches. On what may be called the obverse:

"Nine Pence.

"This bill shall pass current for nine pence, according to an Act of General Assembly of the Commonwealth, passed the twentieth day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventyseven. Dated the tenth day of April,

1777."

Signature illegible.

On the dexter side, the same device

as on the last, except the words "Agricult cum Merc." In a plain border "Nine pence," in varied characters.

On the reverse, "To counterfeit is death;" "Nine pence ;" "Philadelphia ;” "John Dunlap ;" "Nine pence."

It is remarkable that the Quaker State of Pennsylvania should have continued the threat of death for counterfeiting these notes, even for nine-pence, after other States had discontinued it: and it

is also worthy of notice that, except in the bills of New Jersey and Pennsyl vania, all the bills are expressed to be payable in gold or silver, or by bills on London.-I am, &c.

GEORGE R. CORNER.

"DE ILLUSTRIBUS SIMONIBUS."

MR. URBAN,-It would be endless if one took the trouble to correct all the nonsense which reporters put into one's mouth at Archæological Meetings and the like. As long as it is confined to the local newspapers, of course nobody cares; but it is a little hard when some hideous folly is transferred to the more permanent pages of the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. For instance, in the report of the Meeting of the Institute at Worcester, I am made to say that my hero, Earl Simon of Montfort, was, in his own age, "freely compared to Simon Peter, Simon Magus, and Simon the Maccabee." I remember seeing this in some Worcester paper and laughing heartily at it; but one does not laugh when such stuff is fathered upon one in a lasting record. I can only suppose that Simon Magus

THOMAS MR. URBAN,-Will you allow me to place on record in your pages an inscription of some interest, and which, I believe, has never been printed? Thomas Sympson, to whom Lincoln topographers are under greater obligations than to any other person for varied and useful materials, lies buried in the Consistory Court in the Cathedral, under a slab thus inscribed :--

GENT, MAG. VOL. CCXIII.

is the patron saint of the Worcester reporters, and that they thought they supplied an omission on my part in not grouping him with the Earl, the Apostle, and the High Priest. But I must abjure all such heresies both in my own name and in that of every Englishman of the thirteenth century.-I am, &c.

EDWARD A. FREEMAN.

Somerleaze, Wells, Sept. 19, 1862.

[We readily afford our correspondent the opportunity of correcting a statement that he now considers erroneous; but in justice to ourselves we must remark, that we have referred to persons who were present at the Meeting, and they assure us that the comparison did not originate with the reporters.]

SYMPSON.

"H. S. C. Thomas Sympson, Curiæ consistoralis Episcopatus Lincln (sic) procuratorum generalium unus: necnon Clericus fabrica istius Ecclesiæ. Natus

apud Salkeld Regis in Com. Cumbria die Sancti Luci evang., A.D. 1702. Ob. xx. die Feb., A.D. 1749. Non omnis moriar.”

I am, &c. EDWARD PEACOCK.
Bottesford Manor, Brigg,
Sept. 1862.

3 M

« ZurückWeiter »