SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND.

June 9. The Hon. LORD NEAVES in the chair.

On a ballot, Mr. Andrew Gillman, S.S.C., was admitted a Fellow. The following communications were brought before the meeting :

I. Notes of the Search for the Tomb of the Royal Foundress of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity at Edinburgh. By Daniel Wilson, LL.D., Hon. Mem. S.A. Scot. Dr. Wilson's attention having been recently called to this search, in which he took a warm interest and an active share, he was induced to record the circumstances attending it, of which, from the interruption in printing the Society's Transactions, no account has been preserved in an accessible form. The diggings which took place shewed that the whole of the north aisle, the apse, and other parts of the church had been used for sepulture. Under the floor of the chapel on the north, which Dr. Wilson believed to have been the Lady-chapel and chantry of the foundress, a coffin was found, which was believed to contain the remains of the royal foundress, and these remains were placed in the royal vault at Holyrood. Some months later, in clearing the foundations of the apse, a coffin of lead of a peculiar shape was found, which also contained the remains of a female, and the popular belief having recognised them as those of the Queen, they were placed in a wooden coffin, and interred in Holyrood Chapel, outside the entrance to the royal vault. Dr. Wilson gave an interesting account of the operations in question, with various reasons which induced him to believe that the remains first found were those of the Queen of James II.

Mr. Laing made some observations on the subject, with the view of justifying the conclusion to which he had arrived, that the coffin in the apse really contained the royal remains.

Mr. Joseph Robertson, while expressing the interest which he had felt in listening to Dr. Wilson's paper, did not feel convinced by his arguments, and felt bound to dissent from several of the statements on which his conclusion was based, especially those relating to the position of the Lady-chapel in Middle Age churches, and to the supposed nonoccurrence of founders' tombs near the high altar.

II. Notices and Examples of Inscriptions on Old Castles and Town Houses in the North-east of Scotland. By A. Jervise, Esq., Corr. Mem. S.A. Scot. Mr. Jervise adverted to the fashion which prevailed in Scotland during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries of embellishing the houses of the nobility and gentry, as well as of the more opulent burgesses, with legends and maxims of a Scriptural, moral, or witty tendency. These in many cases are accompanied by heraldic insignia, and the inscriptions, while mostly in the vernacular and in Latin, are occasionally in Greek and Hebrew. Of these, Mr. Jervise gave specimens from buildings in various parts of Scotland, which shewed the general diffusion of the taste, as well as a similarity in tone.

III. Notice of an Ancient Cross-bow found under Moss on the estate of Auchmedden, Aberdeenshire. By Alex. Murray, Esq., Nethermill, Cruden. From this notice it appeared that about twenty years ago, in digging a mossy piece of ground, a cross-bow, with a set of arrows said to have been tipped with flint, was found in the bottom. The stock has disappeared, but the bow has been presented to the Museum by

Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray states that many cairns are in the neighbourhood, and suggests an archæological examination of the district.

IV. Note respecting the Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, and the Original List of Subscribers, in 1752. By D. Laing, Esq., V.P.S.A. Scot. Mr. Laing stated that this building had replaced an earlier exchange erected in 1685, which, although "it had a convenient piazza for merchants to meet in," seems never to have been much used by them, as they continued to meet at the Cross. The great fire of 1700 appears to have been very destructive in the neighbourhood of the Exchange; but it was not till July, 1752, that the Convention of Royal Burghs encouraged a plan for a public forum or Exchange at the Cross of Edinburgh, erecting a building on the ruins on the south side of the Parliament Close, containing a borough room, providing proper repositories for the public records of the nation, and other useful works." The original paper, now presented to the Museum by Mr. William Skinner, W.S., contains the autograph signatures of Provost Drummond, Messrs Coutts, bankers, and of the leading persons in Edinburgh who subscribed towards the erection of the proposed Exchange buildings. The contract price of the building was £31,545 6s. 8d. sterling. It was founded in 1753, and finished in 1761.

V. Note of Analysis of Metal and Inside Coating of a Bronze Patella, now presented to the Museum by Dr. J. A. Smith, Secretary. By Dr. S. Macadam. This highly-finished vessel was found on the farm of Temple, in Teviotdale, near the Roman road which passes through that district. From an analysis made by Dr. Stephenson Macadam, it appears that it is formed of fine yellow bronze, which is coated over with metal to represent the process of tinning resorted to at the present day. The metal was found to contain rather better than 79 parts of copper, 10 of tin, and 9 of lead. On a former occasion Dr. Macadam analysed various relics of bronze, of the type generally called Celtic. In these the proportion of copper ranged from about 81 to 93; the tin from 5 to 18; and the lead from 3 to 8 per cent.

Numerous donations to the Museum were announced, including the bronze patella, believed to be Roman, above described, and a stone slab with incised cross, found on the Island of Eilean-more, Argyllshire, presented by Professor J. Y. Simpson, F.S.A. Scot.

YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

May 6. The Rev. CANON HARCOURT in the chair.

66

Louis Drouet, Esq., of Micklegate, was elected a member, and the Rev. M. R. Bresher, Coney-street, York, an associate of the Society. W. Procter, Esq., of York, then read a paper, which he illustrated by several experiments, " On Liquid Diffusion and Dialysis." The subject was one of much interest as furnishing a more certain mode than any other as yet known of detecting poisons, but the detail is not suited to the pages of an antiquarian publication.

June 3. THOMAS ALLIS, Esq., in the chair.

Lord Londesborough, Marcus Worsley, Esq., St. Mary's, York, Wm. Drawbridge, Esq., Clifton, and the Rev. A. R. Fausset, St. Mary's, York, were unanimously elected members of the Society.

The Secretary then read a letter on archæological subjects from the Rev. J. Kenrick, who is at present on a tour in France, from which we extract a few passages.

"There is just now, throughout France, a great revival of archæological studies, and local museums are forming in various provincial towns, to which individual collections are freely given. In a notice of the establishment of one at Besançon, it is said, 'All the communes are giving up their collections to form a central museum, and 700 separate contributors have come forward with donations.' In this respect there is a characteristic difference between the two nations; the Englishman pleases himself with the possession of antiquarian objects, of which he often knows not the use; the Frenchman's glory is to contribute to the glory of his nation, his birthplace, or his residence. This taste for archæology has been favoured by the circumstance that the Emperor has been studying the campaigns of Cæsar in Gaul, and is said to be preparing a translation of his Commentaries.' To clear up the many points which have hitherto been doubtful, he has had excavations made on the sites of his camps and the scenes of his sieges. You may remember, when the Empress was at York, the curiosity which she manifested about all Roman remains, and her disappointment when informed that we had nothing of Julias Cæsar to show her. I did not understand it at the time, but it was no doubt the result of the interest which a good wife always takes in the projects of her husband.

"I will conclude these scraps of archæological information with the mention of a discovery, not made by an imperial commission, but by a private individual, M. Grimaund de Caux. We know from Suetonius and Dion Cassius that the Emperor Nero projected, and actually began, a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth, which was never carried out. M. Grimaund de Caux has discovered the traces of it, confirming the accounts of the historians which had been called in question. The accounts they give of Nero's proceedings at the turning of the first sod' have a curious resemblance to our newspaper reports of the beginning of a railway. With a golden pickaxe he began the excavation, filled a basket with earth, and carried it a short distance on his back. Dion Cassius says he desisted from his work because blood flowed from the ground at the first stroke; Suetonius, because he was told that the level of the Gulf of Corinth was higher than that of the sea on the other side and that the island of Egina would be drowned. It would be useless to inquire into the motives which induced a fickle tyrant to abandon a difficult undertaking. It is curious, however, to see the tenacity of legend. When M. Grimaund de Caux was making his researches, he was told by an old man that his father had told him, that the Venetians, when they passed the Morea, had attempted to cut through the isthmus, and had desisted because blood flowed from the rock at the first stroke."

This meeting concluded the session of 1861-62; the session of 1862-63 will commence in October next.

Correspondence of Sylvanus Urban.

[Correspondents are requested to append their Addresses, not, unless agreeable, for publication, but in order that a copy of the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE containing their Communications may be forwarded to them.]

COATS OF ARMS IN THE CHURCHES OF STAMFORD
AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.

CASTERTON MAGNA. (Rutland.)

THE roof of the belfry in the tower is groined, and has shields at the four corners, one of which has no arms upon it. The other three are:

1. On a chevron three roses-Browe.

2. Quarterly: 1 and 4, Browe; 2, Checquy, and on a canton a lion ramp nt— Warren; 3, A cross moline-Folville, with a helmet and an ass's head, the crest of Browe.

3. Browe, impaling Warren.

RYHALL. (Rutland.)

In the chancel are the following monuments on the walls::

1. Sir William Bodenham, alias Bodenden, Knt., 1613. On it are three shields of arms:-1. Quarterly: 1, (Azure), a fesse between three chess-rooks (or)—Bodenham, (modern); 2,. Barry of six; 3, (Argent,) a talbot passant (sable, langued gules)—Ragon; 4, (Argent,) on a cross (gules) five mullets (or)—Bodenham, (ancient). The second shield bears, (Argent), a canton (sable)-Sutton. And the thigd, (Or, a fesse dancetté ermines), between three eagles close (vert)-Quarles. Crest (of Bodenham), A dragon's head erased (sable).

2. Sir Francis Bodenham, alias Bodenden, Knt., (died 1645); Penelope, his first wife, daughter of Sir Edward Wingfield, Knt., of Kimbolton Castle, Hunts., (who died 1625); and his second wife Theodosia, dau. of Francis Lord Hastings, (died 1671):-Quarterly of 6: 1, Bodenham, (modern); 2, Barry of six ; 3, A talbot passant; 4, A canton, with a crescent for difference; 5, A lion rampant; 6, Bodenham, (ancient). Crest as before.

3. Beaumont Bodenham, Esq., Sept. 1, 1681 :- Bodenham, impaling (Argent), three grey hounds passant (sable, collared or)-Wigmore.

4. Samuel Barker, Oct. 30, 1696:-Barry of 8 (or and sable ?), over all a bend (gules ?), and in chief a crescent for difference-(Barker); impaling A roundle between two bendlets-(Brown?). Crest, Out of a ducal coronet (or) an eagle displayed (sable, beaked and legged gules)—Barker.

5. Thomas Harrison, D.D., Aug. 10, 1782:-Or, on a bend azure, three lozenges of the field-Harrison; impaling Wingfield. Crest of Harrison, A demi-gryphon segreant holding a lozenge.

6. Margaret (Wingfield), relict of the above, April 12, 1795:-Harrison, impaling Wingfield.

7. Rev. Martin Amphlett, M.A., Dec. 26, 1833; also Peggy his relict, April 13,

The colours thus distinguished have faded; their restoration may in some cases be erroneous.

GENT, MAG. VOL. CCXIII,

L

1834:--On a fesse a cinquefoil between three lozenges, impaling A lion rampant. Crest, A dromedary proper.

8. Michael Pierrepont, Esq., April 24, 1834:- Arms of Pierrepont. Crest, A lion rampant (sable) between two wings erect (argent). Motto, Pie repone te.

SEATON. (Rutland.)

In the south wall of the south aisle is a sepulchral recess, but whether it contained an effigy or not there is nothing to shew. On each side are two shields of arms that on the dexter bears-Quarterly: 1 and 4, Two lions passant ducally crowned; 2, Bendy of eight; 3, Two bars, over all a bend. The crest is destroyed. The sinister shield is charged as 1 and 4 of the last.

On the floor of the chancel is a square plate of brass to the Rev. Mr. Henry Geast, M.A., died Oct. 12, 1749:- Argent, a chevron gules between three (2 and 1) swans' necks erased. Crest, A swan's neck erased argent, between two ostrich feathers erect, of the last.

On the east side of the chancel-arch are three hatchments placed in a row. The centre one bears-Sable, on a chevron, between three martlets or, as many mullets of the field; Crest, A martlet or-Monckton. The dexter bears-Monckton, impaling Azure, on a bend engrailed argent three mullets sable; and the sinister as the first; crest, as before.

HARRINGWORTH. (Northamptonshire.)

In the north window of the chancel is this crest-A stag courant argent.

The north aisle is the burying-place of the ancient family of Tryon, and contains several monuments and hatchments to that family.

On a monument to Charles Tryon, Esq., who died Nov. 7, 1705:-Tryon, impaling Argent, on a bend sable three owls vert-Savile.

On a monument to Peter Tryon, Esq.; Judith (Cullen) his wife; James Tryon, Esq.; and Samuel Tryon, Esq., the latter of whom died Feb. 4, 1711 :—Quarterly : 1 and 4, Tryon; 2 and 3, Argent, between two wings addorsed a bull's head caboshed, impaling A chevron engrailed, between three (2 and 1) escallop shells. Crest of Tryon, A boar's head (sable) powdered with estoiles (or). Motto, Breviore volvitor orbe.

On the hatchments, which are four in number, are these arms:-1. Tryon. Crest, A fox's head. Motto, In cœlo quies. 2. Argent, on a bend gules three swans of the field, each charged on the breast with a pellet sable, between three pellets of the last; impaling Or, on a pale azure three bezants. Motto, Spes mea in Deo. 3. Tryon, impaling Ermine, on a chief azure five bezants. Crest of Tryon. 4. Tryon, impaling Argent, two bars sable. Crest of Tryon.

DUDDINGTON. (Northamptonshire.)

In the chancel is a monument to Hugh Jackson, Esq., and Ja ne his wife: she died April 22, 1816; he April 28, 1829:--Argent, a greyhound courant between three eagles' heads erased sable. Crest, A demi-horse argent, guttée de sang.

COLLYWESTON. (Northamptonshire.)

Over the south doorway is this coat of arms-Three church bells proper.

EASTON. (Northamptonshire.)

In the chancel is a monument to Charles Bletsoe, Esq., who died Feb. 8, 1753: -Argent, on a bend gules three garbs between as many escallops sable.

Opposite to the last is a monument to his wife Catherine, who died Dec. 16, 1772.

Arms same as last.

In a window at the east end of the church, now destroyed, was the arms of Stocke, now in private possession.