Nevile of Chevet, esquire, to the said Francis. And also a demolish'd or ruinous building called Sandall Castle, with all Quyres and Rooms in the church thereto belonging. The purchase money amounted to £1,110. The estate remained in the family of Nevile until 1765, when on the 4th of July in that year, Anne, the daughter and sole heiress of John Nevile of Chevet, who had married Harrison Pilkington, the fifth son of Sir Lyon Pilkington of Stanley Hall, Baronet, sold Chevet and Sandal to Sir Lionel Pilkington, the fifth baronet, and elder brother of her husband, from whom it has descended to its present owner, Sir Lionel Milborne Swinnerton Pilkington, Baronet, who succeeded his brother as eleventh baronet in 1855, and to whom our thanks are due for allowing Mr. H. S. Childe (treasurer of the Society) and myself to make what excavations were thought necessary to obtain a complete plan of the castle. The diggings, which occupied about three months, were undertaken jointly by Mr. Childe and myself, and the plans of the earthworks and castle were prepared under his superintendence by Mr. W. P. Walker, who is also responsible for the very careful measurements. Mr. Whilding made careful sketches of our "finds," three of which are reproduced. To these gentlemen I tender my sincere thanks for their help so readily and ungrudgingly given, and I must also acknowledge many suggestions and help from Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite, F.S.A., Mr. W. H. St. John Hope, Mr. J. J. Cartwright, F.S.A., and the Clerk of the Peace for the West Riding, who kindly permitted me to examine some early Sessions Rolls.

Notes.

[The Council have decided to reserve a small space in each Number of the Journal for notices of Finds and other discoveries; it is hoped that Members will assist in making this a record of all the matters of archæological interest which may from time to time be brought to light in this large county.]

LI.

RUNIC DIAL.

A portion of an inscribed dial was found in the churchyard of Skelton in Cleveland in the latter part of 1891, by Mr. T. M. Fallow, and afterwards figured and described by him in the Reliquary. It bears part of the circle and four rays of the dial, two of which are crossed, with part of an inscription in four lines in quasi-Roman letters, and of another in one line, in Danish runes. The former reads (omitting fragmentary letters)

ES. LET,

NA. GRERA

C. HWA (the P-shaped W)

A. COMA

and the latter (transliterated)

DIEBEL. OK.

Mr. Fallow gives Professor Browne's account of the inscription, as follows:

which occurs twice other example in

"I make the runes decidedly Danish.' The I take to be a 'stung rune' for 'e,' the only England being the stone in the Guildhall Library, found in St. Paul's churchyard, of the time of Canute.

"And the last rune but one is very un-English. In accordance with this view is Dr. Skeat's statement, that the one clear and complete word 'COMA' is not Anglo-Saxon, as also the letters which we read as GRERA. In fuller accordance is Mr. Magnusson's statement, that both of these

are decidedly 'Old Norse,' or 'Danish,' of early twelfth century perhaps. How well this suits the circumstances of Cleveland you know well enough.

"I read the runes as :

HIIBINAY.

i.e., 'diebel ok,' which Mr. Magnusson says is good Danish-of latish date for 'devil and.' He tells me that GRERA is part of the word 'to grow,' and COMA is 'to come,' or 'they come.' These words are evidently suitable for a sun dial. The words, 'devil and,' may well be a pious curse on creatures of that kind; perhaps a proverbial saying, that when the sun is up the evil spirits are down.

"I suppose this is the only 'Danish' inscription in Anglo-Saxou orthography in this island. The fact that the inscriptions do not seem

to run in known formulæ makes one much wish to see the other half." J. T. F.

NOTE. The Council is indebted to Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Ld., for the loan of these blocks.

LII.

WILL OF A FORMER VICAR OF DONCASTER, 1360.

In a volume entitled Testamenta Karleolensia" just issued by the "Cumberland and Westmoreland Antiquarian and Archæological Society," the following occurs, p. 28-30. It is the will of William Nelson, vicar of Doncaster, as he is there styled. His name appears in Jackson's "History of St. George's Church" as "William, son of Thomas, son of Ellen de Appelby, Chaplain. Instit. 17 June, 1355, on pres. of the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary of York, vacated by death." The will is dated the Thursday before S. Michael's day (Sep. 29); it was proved on Oct. 6 following, his successor, Robert Murray, chaplain, being instituted on Oct. 5. It will be acceptable to all who have a copy of Hunter's "South Yorkshire," or Jackson's "History of St. George's Church," and to the members of the Yorkshire Society. Two or three corrections are made in the spelling of local names. The original is in Latin.

WILL OF DN. WILLIAM NELSON, VICAR OF Doncaster.

In the name of God, Amen. I, William de Appilby, Vicar of the Church of Donecaster, on Thursday next before the feast of S. Michael

1

2

the Archangel, A.D. 1360, make my will in this mauner. In the first place I leave my soul to God, and to blessed Mary, and all Saints, and my body to be buried in the Church of S. George, and with my body as is the custom in the name of a mortuary. Item, in wax 20 pounds to be burned about my body. Item, in the calling together of my neighbours 20 pounds. Item, to Dn. William de Hauley 40s. and my better robe. Item, to Dn. John de Barneley 13s. 4d. and my second best robe. Item, to Dn. John de Mekesburgh 1 13s. 4d. and my third best robe. Item, to Dn. William de Estthorp 13s. 4d. and my fourth best robe. Item, to Dn. Thomas de Appilby 13s. 4d. and my fifth best robe. Item, in distribution to the poor 10 pounds. Item, to Thomas Olifant, his wife and sons 67. 13s. 4d. Item, to the sons of John son of Christiana legitimately begotten 40s. Item, to Alice my sister and her daughter living in Kirkeby Steffan 40s. Item, to Dn. John del Okes 3s. 4d. Item, to William Mangwys the 40s. which he owes me and 26s. 8d. Item, to each chaplain celebrating in the Church of Doncaster 40d., except to the chaplains above named. Item, to the two clerks of the church 6s. 8d. to be divided between them. Item, to John Foxholes 6s. 8d. Item, to Mr. John Burdon 20s. Item, to Dn. John de Marton that portifory which I now have, or that portifory which Dn. William de Loundres has of me. Item, to Dn. John vicar of Burgh my small portifory. Item, to Godewill and his wife 26s. 8d. which they owe me, and 40s. besides. Item, to Adam le Harpour 13s. 4d. Item, to the Friars of Carmel of Appilby 8 marcs and this in the disposition of Fr. William Garun. Item, to one Chaplain to celebrate for the souls of my father and mother, and other friends for whom I am bound, in the Church of S. Michael of Appilby, for three years 18 marcs. Item, to the church of S. Lawrence of Appilby one missal. Item, to the Church of S. George of Donecaster that portifory which belonged to John Gare, Chaplain. Item, to William de Brampton 20s. and one bed, viz. :—one canvas, 2 blanketts, 2 sheets, and one coverlyt with a curtain. Item, to John del Hill 20s. and one bed, viz. :—one canvas, 2 blanketts, ij sheets and one coverlet with a curtain. Item, to the high altar of Blessed Mary 68. 8d. Item, to the altars of S. Thomas the Martyr, S. Nicholas, and S. Lawrence 10s. in equal portions. Item, to Dn. Will. de Hanley one chest. Item, to Dn. John de Louersale 20s. Item, to the fabric of S. George's Church 138. 4d. Item, to William and John my cousins 20 pounds and two books, viz. :-Legenda Sanctorum and one book of expositions of the Epistles. Item, one Flanders chest and everything belonging to my chamber except those things which are devised above. Item, to Agnes my maidservant 13s. 4d. Item, to Will del Hill 6s. 8d. Item, to Thomas le Carter 68. 8d. Item, to John my page 6s. Ed. Item, to Thomas my page 6s. 8d. Item, to the boys of Robert de Fulsham 6s. 8d. Item, to Alice daughter of Will. Wodecok 6s. 8d. Item, to the boys of Thomas Cote 6s. 8d. Item, to the boys of John de Stanford 68. 8d. Item, to the boys of Will. de Canteley 6s. 8d. Item, to the Friars Minors of Donecaster, 13s. 4d. Item, to the Friars Carmelites in Donecaster 13s. 4d. To the Anchoretts of Donecaster, 6s. 8d.

1 John de Mekesburgh was instituted to the Fledburgh, or S. Nicholas Chantry in the church, July 31, 1349, on pres. of the commonalty of Doncaster. He held

it till his death.

2 William de Hexthorpe, priest, was instituted to the same Chantry, Dec. 21, 1369, on pres. of Henry Westby.

Item, of John Clerk 40d. The residue of my goods I leave to celebrating for my soul according to the disposition of my exors. Giving and granting to the same exors full and lawful power for increasing or diminishing in the premisses if necessary and everything else which true and lawful exors ought to be able to do. For the faithful carying out of this my will I make and appoint Willm. de Stanley of Donecaster, Chaplain, Willm. Wodcok, Thomas Cott, and Willm. de Fisshelake my exors. In proof whereof my own seal and the seal of the office of Deanery of Donecaster are to this will appended. Given on the day and at the place above named. Item, I leave to Dn. Will. de Hanley, Chaplain, 48 marcs of sterling for the celebration of divine offices for my soul and for the souls of all faithful dead for 8 years, viz. :-for each year 6 marcs, if my goods suffice for this.

The will was proved at Doncaster on the 6th of October, 1360, and at Rose on the 16th of October, 1360.

F. R. F.