horn, and leather, beads, &c. One object that attracted much attention is an apparatus made like a Fig. 5.

MOSS FRINGE.

Fig. 6..

NAILED LEATHER (full sized).

fringe by simply plaiting together at one end the long stems of a kind of moss (Fig. 5). Similar articles were found in three different parts of the crannog, all of which were deeply buried. The next object, represented in Fig. 6, is a fragment. It consists of two portions of thick leather kept together by six stout square-cut copper nails, arranged in two rows, and measures 24 by 2 inches. The nails are broader at one end than the other, and pass completely through the layers of leather, after which they appear to be slightly rivetted. Marks of additional nails are seen all round.

Mr. Anderson contributes a note on two vessels of brass, found in Kilbirnie Loch, and Mr. CochranPatrick, M.P., the energetic hon. secretary for Ayrshire, describes some excavations in a Rock-shelter on the Ayrshire coast, and one of the pre-historic Earthworks of Ayrshire. Mr. J. S. Dobie's interesting Paper on the Parish Church of Kilbirnie is beautifully illustrated with representations of the fine wood carving of the "Lord's loft" and other details.

The Marquis of Bute's arms; Collections relating to the Parish of Tarbolton; Sutherland Correspondence, 1748-50; and Selections from family papers at Lanfine, close a volume full of archæological and historical interest. There are 331 members of the association, but a larger number is required, and this volume ought to bring a considerable accession. The subscription is one guinea, and volumes are issued at such intervals as the funds will allow.

Outlines of English Constitutional History, for the use of Students. By B. C. Skottowe. (Oxford: James Thornton. 1881.) 8vo, pp. xiii-100.

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When we say that this little book is based upon the work of Professor Stubbs, we know at once that the students who look it up for cramming" purposes will not be led into any very wrong paths of knowledge, even if they are not led very deeply into the subject. The author has grasped his subject well, but we cannot but think that the best possible examination help is one that would make students go to the authorities for information, not leave off at the meagre outlines to be gained from examination books. Some day perhaps we may obtain such books for our schools and colleges, and in the meantime we can recommend the accuracy and care of Mr. Skottowe's work.

ABC of Gothic Architecture. By JOHN HENRY PARKER, C.B. (London: Parker & Co. 1881.) 12mo, pp. vi-254.

Mr. Parker gives us in a handy form, almost suitable for the pocket, some of the most essential points about the history and characteristics of Gothic architecture. He illustrates his examples by drawings of some of the best specimens of the art; and so as to make the book a stepping-stone to his larger works, the Introduction to the Study of Gothic Architecture and the Glossary of Architecture, he frequently uses the same words as he does in those more advanced books, only assisted by interlineations of explanatory sen. tences. We thus get a very good help forward in the study of architecture. To those who are going to take up the subject as a study for the first time, and to

So

those who want to know some of the chief points without the trouble of going into the detail, Mr. Parker's book will be found to be a necessity. thoroughly is he in earnest about his subject--and indeed it is a very grand one-that Mr. Parker tells his readers that to understand architecture well, they must trust to the eye more than to any number of pages of letterpress; and he carries out this principle by the many excellent woodcuts which adorn almost every page of his little manual. But he goes a step further than this. He says: "Go and see the buildings themselves," and we would re-echo his words, and add, take Mr. Parker's book on the journey. It would be invidious to take exception, perhaps, when we have so much that is good, but there are passages in the text which indicate that a little revision is necessary-e.g., on page 30 we are told that a description of early Norman architecture is necessary, and on page 31 we read "the early Norman style has already been described." So it has, but not between these passages. Why did not Mr. Parker afford us an index?

The Wandering Jew. By MONCURE DANIEL CONWAY. (London: Chatto and Windus. 1881.) Sm. 8vo, pp. x-292.

The earliest known written reference to the Wandering Jew can be traced to the thirteenth century; but the legend is of the greatest antiquity, and can be found in many literatures. Mr. Conway appears to hold to the opinion suggested by M. Lacroix, that the myth took its rise in an allegory in which the Hebrew race were personified under the figure of the Everlasting Wanderer, and accordingly he deals largely with the movements at various periods of the Wandering Race. Mr. Conway treats of the myth and its constant recurrence in folk-lore, passing on to consider its resuscitation by the poets of Germany, of France, and of England. Cartaphilus, or Ahasuerus (both names being used), had a double curse passed upon him--one was that he should never die, the other that he should never rest long in the same place. The first part of the curse seems to have attracted the imagination of the earlier writers most, and we find the man styled, as Professor Childs remarks, Judæus non Mortalis, Ewiger Jude; but the second part of the curse is prominently brought before us in the names--Wandering Jew, Juif Errant. Mr. Conway, in speaking of the typical Jew, devotes a chapter to the pound of flesh, and its appearance in literature before the Merchant of Venice. cannot help thinking he is mistaken when he states that Shylock, as acted by Skakespeare's friend, Burbage, was a comic figure. "His make-up consisted of exceedingly red hair and beard, a false nose preternaturally long and hooked, and a tawny petticoat. Such a figure must have been largely meant for the pit and gallery, of which Shakespeare was rarely oblivious, and Burbage never." Certainly Burbage was referred to as "The red-haired Jew;" but we believe there is no authority for supposing that the greatest actor of his time ever demeaned himself to represent a farcical character. It was Dogget, in Lord Lansdowne's "improved" version of Shakespeare who performed the Jew as a ferociously comic character; and to Macklin is due the honour of returning to

Here we

Shakespeare and taking Shylock out of low comedy and acting it as a serious character. The very gradual growth of a better feeling among Christians for the once persecuted Jew is a subject of considerable interest, although perhaps it is hardly one which we might expect to find treated in a volume on the mythical Wandering Jew. Mr. Conway has produced a very interesting book, full of curious learning, which will be read with pleasure by all interested in the history and philosophy of myths. We feed hardly add, as Mr. Conway's views are well known, that he sees myths in much which most readers will believe to be true.

Meetings of Antiquarian Societies.

BRADFORD HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.-Sept. 19.-About thirty of the members of this Society visited the residence of Mr. John Holmes, at Holmstead, Roundhay, near Leeds, for the purpose of inspecting his extensive and valuable collection of pre-historic and artistic treasures. The collection includes a valuable library (especially rich in antiquarian works), antique furniture, tapestry, implements of warfare, pre-historic relics, rare examples of ancient pottery, particularly a unique collection of ware from Cyprus, and other objects, in amassing which Mr. Holmes has devoted the leisure of about forty years in travel and research, having throughout definite aims and objects, one of which was to secure examples illustrating the development of progress in man, commencing with the most primitive forms. Thus, Mr. Holmes's collection of flint instruments, and his examples of the Stone, Iron, and Bronze Periods following, afford material for illustrating the history of the pre-historic ages; and his collection of relics illustrative of the refinement of the Egyptians, the Greeks, and other ancient nations, is scarcely less rich. The fact that so valuable a collection, and one especially rich in local antiquities, will shortly be dispersed, owing to the owner's proposed residence abroad, was the subject of frequent allusion, and the suggestion was heartily endorsed that some effort should be made to retain intact the connected series of antiquities.

DORSET NATURAL HISTORY AND FIELD CLUB. - Autumn, Meeting, Blandford, September 29. President: J. C, Mansel-Pleydell.-The programme commenced with an inspection of a fine private museum belonging to Mr. Durden, of High Street, Blandford, containing an almost unrivalled collection of British, Saxon, and Roman antiquities, Keltic implements, sepulchral urns of every size and formation, bronze fibule, and weapons of offence and defence. These highly interesting objects were fully explained and commented upon by Professor Buckman, who expressed a hope that the Society would be enabled to publish an illustrated catalogue of the contents of Mr. Durden's museum. An adjournment was then made to the neighbouring private museum of Mr. Skipp, where a splendid collection of geological

specimens was exhibited, comprising turtle and fish remains from the Portland and Purbeck beds, beau tiful specimens of palm leaves from Purbeck and the Isle of Wight; fine elephant remains from the gravel beds in the nursery gardens at Blandford, and the iguanodon fossils from Brook, Isle of Wight; the cast of a gigantic ammonite, which was lowered into a boat from the quarries at Tilly Whim, in Purbeck. The museum also contains a very interesting collection of shells from the London clay of Barton, and the freshwater seams of Hordwell and Alum Bay; the far-famed marsupites from a chalk-pit at Thorncombe; with a series of chalk fossils from pits near Blandford, and cretaceous specimens of chalk and flint. It was stated that the whole collection was shortly to be disposed of, and hopes were expressed that it might be secured for the Dorchester Musuem. The company next proceeded to the residence of Mr. Luff, where an interesting series of objects of art were to be seen. A move was then made for Down Wood barrow, which, by the kind permission of Mr. J. J. Farquharson, had been opened for the occasion. The contents discovered proved the extreme antiquity of the tumulus. About three feet below the surface of the ground were discovered the bones of three human beings, the teeth being in perfect preservation. No metal weapons or ornaments, or pottery of any description, were found in the barrow, though two fine specimens of flint implements were brought to light. On the side of the mound several human remains in a sitting posture were unearthed. The day's proceedings were brought to a close by a visit to the neighbouring earthworks of Buzbury Rings. This encampment occupies a commanding eminence. Originally of British construction, it bears traces of later Roman adaptation and occupation. It is nearly circular, 130 feet from north to south, 137 from east to west, surrounded by a vallum; outside this again at some distance runs an elliptical vallum. Inner entrance is on southeast, outer on the west side. The central area is strongly marked by disturbances of soil, indicating human habitations. The chief use of these Rings was probably as a fortified pastoral camp, where cattle were safely penned for use in the larger camps which abound in the neighbourhood

NEWCASTLE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES-Sept. 27. Mr. R. Carr-Ellison in the chair. Mr. Thomas Hodgkin called attention to the danger there was of the Black Gate being pulled down, and moved a resolution thereon.-The Chairman read a Paper "On the meaning of the term ALA PETRIANA." Former discoveries have been made at Old Carlisle, Old Penrith, at Carlisle, and near to Lanercost. The authentic record concerning the Petrian Wing, or Regiment of Horse, is supplied by the well-known entry in the Notitia, where, after the mention of other tribunes and prefects, and the designations and nationalities of the cohorts, or ale, which they severally commanded at the period of its compilation, have been given, and the name of the station occupied by each respectively we find the words PRÆFECTVS ALE PETRIANÆ PETRIANIS. Now, from this we may learn that the Petrianan cavalry was quartered at the Petrianan camps or cantonments; not, as has been supposed, at Petriana, for then the genitive Petriance would have been used. The cavalry was quartered in peri

anis, agris, locis, castris. But if so, there must also have been a population of Petriani, a set of people so denominated from their occupation or some like reason. But who then were the Petriani? They were the workmen of the PETRE, the crags or quarries, so extensively wrought by the Romans. And these workmen were assuredly such as would require a strong force of armed and mounted police, placed in detachments at the different quarries where work was going on, to hold them in subjection. They would consist of military criminals of all the nationalities assembled under the Roman standards in Britain-Caledonian prisoners of war, and any number of British labourers retained under compulsion. These PETRIANI would have to be hutted and sup. plied with food and clothing in special cantonments, or castris petrianis, the PETRIANIS of the Notitia, unless we accept the expression as equivalent to fodinis petrianis, the quarries themselves. Tacitus calls the same force ala petrina, which would bear the same signification; but whether we dignify the phrase with capital initials or not, it is clear, to my apprehension at least, that PETRINA or PETRIANA is not derived from any proper name, but is a simple GræcoLatin adjective. We may expect to find records of detachments of the force in yet other localities near to ancient quarries. The name of the deceased standardbearer interred at Hexham is Greek, and signifies swift-charger, ELAUNUS. If we thus construe the PETRIANIS of the Notitia Imperii strictly, it is vain to imagine that any one station was denominated substantively Petriana, and that it was next in position to Amboglanna.-Mr. C. C. Hodges reported the discovery of an important Roman stone in the porch of Hexham Church last week, and showed a drawing of the stone.-The Rev. Dr. Bruce read a Paper on the subject. The idea has prevailed, he said, that the Roman stones which have been found at Hexham have been brought from Corbridge or some other part of the Wall. This certainly is an error. In making an excavation last week in what is now the porch of the Priory Church, with the view of ascertaining whether the Saxon crypt had extended so far, a large slab was encountered only 2 feet under the floor. The slab is about 9 feet long and 3 feet wide. It averages one foot in thickness. On lifting the stone, an operation which was not effected without difficulty, it was found to be elaborately carved on the upper side. The carving represents a cavalry officer riding rough-shod over a fallen foe. The officer has his side face towards the spectator. On his head is a helmet, which is adorned with two flowing plumes; there has, doubtless, been a third, which is hid from view by the larger of the two that are represented. In his right hand he carries a standard, at the head of which is a radiated figure, exhibiting, on close inspection, something like the appearance of a human head. The horseman has on a coat of mail, and by his right side hangs his sword. The horse, as usual, is small in comparison with the size of the man; the bridle and trappings are shown, but no stirrups are seen. The prostrate foe is crouching on the ground; his face fronts the spectator, and is well seen; he wears a beard, which the rider does not; his sword is in his right hand, and is uplifted, but that part of the carving which should represent

the end of it is broken off. On each side of the slab has been an ornamental column, terminating in an elaborate capital, considerable portions of which remain. The upper part has been carefully decorated, but the efforts of the Roman artist have been to a great extent obliterated by the pick-axes of more recent workmen. The stone bears an inscription which shows us that it has been a tombstone erected to the memory of a deceased soldier. The lower part of the stone is untouched with the chisel, inducing the belief that this part has been let into the ground; the back and sides of it, too, are rough, rendering it probable that it has been inserted in a wall. It may have formed the front of a cippus in which were deposited the ashes of the young man. The following is the inscription :

DIS MANIBVS ELAVNVS EQ ALAE PETR SIGNIFER TVR CANDIDI AN XXV STIP VII HS

which may be thus expanded :-Dis Manibus Elaunus eques alæ Petrianæ, signifer turma Candidi annorum viginti quinque stipendiorum septem hic situs [est]. And may be thus translated:-" To the gods the shades, Elaunus, a horse-soldier of the cavalry regiment of Petriana, standard-bearer of the troop of Candidus, of years twenty-five, of campaigns seven, is here laid.'

PENZANCE NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.-Annual Excursion, September 30.-The first place visited was Pengersic Castle, and Mr. Thomas Cornish briefly described its architectural features. He said there were two separate traditions attaching to the building, the first of which referred to the reign of Henry VIII. It was said to have been built by one Job Milliton, who was alleged to have committed a murder, and who fled from justice, and built the castle, intending to be buried in it. The other, and more probable date of its origin, was in the reign of Elizabeth, when it was said to have been built by Sir William Milliton, a governor of the Channel Islands. A feature which favoured the belief that the tower was Elizabethan was that until a very recent period indeed-within the last thirty years-there ran out from one side of the tower a large Elizabethan mansion of "L" form, which extended for a considerable distance, and then went in another direction to where the present farmhouse stood. Judging from its position, and the shape of its windows, it never could have been intended to be defended from artillery, and therefore it must have been a tower of defence, for a short time, against a sudden trouble, which trouble would not imply the use of guns.-The Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma then read a Paper on the legendary history of the castle. He said it was connected with a legendary tale, which was probably familiar to many, and it had a far greater interest than that of a mere fairy tale by which to divert an hour's leisure. The Lord of Pengersic might be called, in some sense, the Cornish "Faust ;" and in many points, the characteristics of that wondrous tale, which had excited some of the noblest efforts of human genius in poetry, in fiction, and in music, might be traced in the Cornish legend. The tale belonged, in fact, to the Faust family of Renaissance myths. It was curious that

Englishmen should have devoted so much to the German variants of this myth, and so little to those of England. A remarkable variant existed in Eastern Europe in the legend of the magician Twardowski, and the points of all these stories were very remarkable. They gathered around real personages, though, possibly, sections of the legend were of considerable antiquity. The lord of Pengersic seemed to have been a real personage. In Devonshire, these myths gathered round an historic personage of the first magnitude-the great naval hero and circumnavigator, Drake. But as they were not altogether flattering to him, he would suggest whether they might not really have been in part Spanish in origin, and imported into Devon by sailors. In Germany, they gathered around Dr. Faustus-perhaps another historic personage of the highest celebrity, the illustrious discoverer of printing-though it was more generally held that they referred to the eminent Dr. John Faust, a contemporary of Luther, who studied at Wittenberg, and was one of the greatest naturalists of his age. In France and Belgium, he believed, some of them attached themselves to that bold and ingenious, though visionary thinker, Cornelius Agrippa. Further to the East they attached themselves to Twardowski, who was a real man-a professor and philosopher of the same epoch. The characteristics of the stories were similar. In all there was a lady in the case. In Cornwall, the fairy wife of the lord of Pengersic; in Faust they had Marguerite; in Twardowski they had his terrible wife, of whom the Evil One himself was afraid. They all arose about the same period, and they were all peasant stories of gentlemen who became illustrious in their day for their ability. The story of Pengersic related, in the first part of it, to a tale of crime such as might sound improbable, if not impossible, to modern ears, but he feared might be paralleled in the mediæval history of some parts of Europe. It had very little that was particularly interesting about it, except the reference to three classes of Cornish superstitions-namely, the power of witchcraft, a belief which was not yet quite dead in the county; a story of a magic sword, a common Celtic belief, which was so beautifully referred to by Mr. Tennyson in his story of Arthur and Excalibur; and, in the next place, the spirit of the slain woman embodied in a white doe, or a white hare.-Mr. T. Cornish, referring to the latter part of Mr. Lach-Szyrma's Paper, mentioned that witchcraft was still extensively believed in in Cornwall; and Mr. Bolitho added that, within seven miles of where they were now standing, the seventh son of a seventh son practised largely in witchcraft, and people came to him from long distances to get cured of diseases. There was also a well-known witch at Camborne.-Mr. Borlase, M. P., said it seemed to him that towers of this sort were a very common adjunct to mansion-houses in the West of England. There were two which occurred to him at once-one at Cotehele, and the other, a smaller one, at Tresungers; but he could not imagine that they were intended for any great defence; he should think they were rather an architectural adjunct to the houses.The party then drove direct to Breage, the rain putting an end to an intended visit to Tregoning Hill, where Mr. Borlase, M.P., would have de

the pre-historic remains on the summit, from which an extensive view of the surrounding country can be obtained.-At Breage, the chief objects of interest in the parish church were pointed out by the vicar, the Rev. E. M. Pridmore. They included the grave of Margaret Godolphin, and the parish registers, which date back to the year 1559.-A start was then made for Godolphin House. Mr. Rosewarne conducted the company through the fine old building, and pointed out its many objects of interest.-Mr. Borlase, M.P., added to the information of those present by giving an account of the early history of the Godolphin family.-The next object of interest was St. Hillary Church, visited on the homeward journey. The inscribed stones in the churchyard attracted considerable attention.

ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CORNWALL.-Annual Excursion, September 22.—In beautiful weather the members of the Royal Institution of Cornwall made an excursion over the country from Liskeard to Looe. The village of Duloe was first reached. Duloe has several points of archaeological interest. A few yards before the church a halt was made at the farmyard of Mr. Hatham, where there is a Druidical circle, tolerably complete. This circle is formed of upright rough blocks of quartz. From the circle the party went to the church, which is a Perpendicular building, restored several years ago under the direction of Mr. St. Aubyn. In the interior the church has a singular appearance owing to there being a north aisle and transept, but no south aisle. An old screen, of rude workmanship, remains between the south aisle and the south chancel aisle, but there is no chancel screen. The most remarkable object in the church is an effigy and tomb of a former Lord of Tremedoc, one Sir John Colshill, who died in 1415. He was a soldier, and is clad in his armour. Mr. Bush called attention to the mouldings of the arches and capitals of the arcade, which contained the Tudor rose and several shields bearing arms. From Duloe the next stage was made across three or four miles of the most charming country, until Trelawne, the residence of the most famous of all the Cornish families, was reached. Trelawne, whither the family migrated in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, is in the parish of Pelynt. The house is a grand one, containing many treasures, and was most kindly thrown open to the excursionists by Sir John Trelawny. In the great hall Mr. Iago read a Paper upon "The Trelawnys of Trelawne;" and afterwards the company moved on towards Talland Church, a building of very quaint appearance, owing to the tower being detached from the main building. The old stocks remain in the porch which connects the tower with the main building. The roof of the south aisle is particularly fine, the whole of the woodwork being beautifully carved. The old carved bench-ends, too, remain in a good state of preservation, the church from its isolated situation probably never having been disfigured by box pews. The old bench-ends of the north transept, or aisle, contain the arms of the Bevills and the Grenvilles, with the name in a scroll over each. There is a curious slate slab in the chancel floor in memory of a lady who died in childbed. It represents her in an old four-post bedstead; date 1625.

VOL. IV.

SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.-August 23-25.-Thirty-third Annual Meeting. - Mr. Elton, the newly-elected President, delivered an address. There is not much in Clevedon itself of archæological interest, with the exception of the old church, the Court, Cadbury Camp, and the Roman road leading from thence to the Pill. Those who live at Clevedon are familiar with the two islands which strike the eye on looking down the Channel-the Holmes. Of these, the Steep Holmes is the most important. It is the point of division between the counties of Gloucester and Somerset. Woodspring Priory flourished till the year 1534. There is a curious circumstance in connection with this priory, which occurred at Kew Stoke. A stone of unusual appearance was noticed in Kew Stoke Church. On its removal a recess was discovered, containing a vessel partly filled with a substance apparently blood. This is supposed to have been a relic of St. Thomas of Canterbury, removed from Woodspring, and secreted in the hiding-place in which it was found at the dissolution of the priory. Still further to the left, across the moor, lies the village of Congresbury. This place takes its name from a certain Saint Congar. Cleeve Toote, a curious crag, stands in this parish. The name, as some say, is of Celtic origin, and was given it in consequence of its dedication in heathen days to the god Trosh, a Celtic equivalent to the classic Mercury; but, on the other hand, it has been pointed out that there is an AngloSaxon word, Totian, meaning to lift up; and remembering the Toot hills formed in different parts of the country, many are inclined to hold that Cleeve Toote is merely a steep hill; but we must not, therefore, reject the tradition that the Toot was one of the high places on which human sacrifices were offered. In the year 1828 a very curious discovery was made in the parish. About a mile from the church, in an enclosure called Wemberham, a stone coffin, very thick, and cut out of a single block, was unearthed at about a foot from the surface. It contained the skeleton of a man and portions of a lead shell. The coffin lay north and south, thus denoting its antiquity and the pre-Christian date of the burial. But the most mysterious circumstance connected with this grave is that it was made on such a lonely spot, then far removed from the habitations of man, and where the sea covered the land in every direction at high tide. The remains were in all probability covered once by a tumulus, which is supposed to have been removed when the lead was taken from the inner shell.-The Secretary then read the Annual Report, which was adopted.-In the afternoon, excursions were made to various places of interest in the district. Clevedon Court, the beautiful residence of Sir Arthur Elton, was the first place visited by the archeologists. Sir Arthur Elton then read a Paper descriptive of his residence.—The party proceeded to Yatton, where they examined the church and rectory house. The church is a large cruciform structure, with central tower and unfinished spire. There was existing here, some years ago, a portion of a Norman font, now buried underground; but there are no other traces left of the early ecclesiastical structure here, though the existence of two springs, called respec

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