spell the word. Elsewhere it is spelled Volca, Volka, Volkar, Volker, Volkre, Volchre.

To add to the numerous traditions connected with this unique site for such a chamber, Mr. Moore contributed another, which existed two or three centuries ago, extracted from the manuscripts of Richard Walwyn, who died in 1750, who copied copiously and verbatim from the valuable manuscripts of Thomas Blount, of Orleton, antiquary, who was born in 1614, and died in 1679. The extract is as follows:

"On ye left dore into ye Church is a little Apartment vulgarly said to be built by one Vaukel yt built ye Church, as a tomb for himself, and so goes by yt name, but more probably it was designed for a place for Penitents, where they might look into the Church and hear prayers, but were not to be admitted into communion till after they had showed signs and proof of yr repentance and amendment."

Judging from the style of architecture, it is probable that this chamber was built to enclose a tomb at a later period than the close of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century, which is the date of the Church; but as regards the application of the word Volka to the chamber, we are inclined to think that it signifies nothing more or less than the Folks' Chamber. Mr. Michael Ellwood informs us that there are near Leominster certain meadows known as the Volker or Volka meadows*; that they were common land prior to 1838; indeed the Volka and Eaton Common lands were the last enclosed in 1856-7 under the provisions of the General Enclosure Act. Townsend says "Volka implies Common," and V and F are interchangeable, hence it is sometimes called Folka or Folk-land. Price, in his history, writes Folkey. "Folk," in Anglo-Saxon, signifies people; and the affixes, er, ar, &c., imply "belonging to." Hence Volker chamber becomes simply the people's chamber.

66

The Rev. A. Rogers, St. Ethelbert's, Leominster, who arrived in the churchyard just before Mr. Moore had ceased speaking, was called upon to say a few words; he regretted that he had not had the advantage of being in time to hear Mr. Barker read his paper, but from a few words he had heard he gathered that it was sought to establish a connection between the Volka chamber and the Sepulchre" of the Holy Week ceremonies. The Rubric of the Missal providing for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament quite disconnects that ceremony from the Volka chamber. On Maundy Thursday two Hosts are consecrated; the one is consumed by the priest during Mass as usual; the other is placed in a chalice, covered with the paten, and wrapped in silk, and at the conclusion of Mass is carried in procession to a chapel or altar of repose, whence it is again carried on Good Friday to the altar and consumed by the priest. Now this rubrical custom is not only still observed, but has existed for many centuries, and in many prereformation churches having no second chapel or side altar we find a recessed arch,

*These meadows are situated south of Leominster, at the confluence of the rivers Arrow and Lugg, on the left of the railway line proceeding from Leominster to Hereford. In the Ordnance Map the spelling adopted is "Volca.'

usually in the chancel opposite the sedilia, where the Blessed Sacrament was placed. Mr. Barker was going to show them such arches at Eardisland, near that portion of the church which formerly formed its chancel. But it was a vulgar error to call this altar or place of repose a Sepulchre," and he, the Rev. A. Rogers, did not know how this common abuse crept in. We have then so far a distinct rubrical custom, nor did he know of any rubric permitting the Blessed Sacrament to be taken out of the church during Holy Week, excepting of course for administration to the dying. Now this chamber was a distinct building, entered from without the church, this constituting its peculiarity and difference from an ordinary mortuary or chantry chapel. Of course he was not in a position to assert that it never was used as a place of reservation, but it seemed to him unlikely, such use being so completely opposed to the rubric making provision elsewhere. He would mention that the priest is under obligation to carry out the rubrics of the missal, and is not at liberty to introduce innovations. On the other hand the Volka chamber was, to begin with, certainly a mortuary chapel. It had undoubtedly been a burial place, and there was the altar with its mensa upon which Mass would be offered for the repose of the soul of the dead, and so he (Father Rogers) continued firmly of the opinion that it was erected for this purpose only.

The members, when the Rev. Father Rogers' remarks were concluded, left the churchyard and took the footpath towards the tumulus, situated about two hundred yards west of the Church. The irregularities of the ground between the Church and the mound showed the water courses of the original streams, before they had been diverted into their present direct course a few yards further southwest of the mound, and there were sufficient indications to lead one to believe that the mound had been formerly moated. It is traditionally reputed to be the burial place of Merwald, son of Penda King of Mercia, and brother of Penda his successor, the first Christian monarch of the State. Merwald founded a convent of nuns at Leominster, and was father of Milburga, who founded the Priory at Wenlock. The mound measures 32 yards at the top. Its situation in a plain is not such as to give ground for thinking that it has ever been one of the old stockaded mounds, which are so numerous, and which indicate the fierceness of the struggle and the persistence of the attack in this important western edge of the Marches, where the Britons rallied, pressed hard by the West Saxons, who started from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The elevated ground visible from here is thickly studded with camps, whose position and figure show them to be British; and moated mounds are numerous both within and without Offa's Dyke, evidencing both the extent of the English conquests and the manner in which they were maintained before and during the eighth and ninth centuries. These moated mounds were afterwards, in many instances, especially when situated upon favourable sites, taken advantage of by the Normans, treading very closely in the footsteps of the English, who made their defences of a stronger and more permanent character, and sometimes enclosed the mound, as will be seen when our Club visits Berkeley Castle on July 31st, where the Norman building still exists enclosing the original earthen mound, and forming what is called a Shell Keep.

Leaving the tumulus the members directed their steps to the next object on the programme of the day, namely, a visit to inspect the fine collection of British birds' eggs in the possession of Dr. R. Williams, of Kingsland. Here the Assistant Secretary (Mr. James B. Pilley) was in his element. Nevertheless, time could only be allowed him to make sufficient memoranda for the following notes upon

THE COLLECTION OF EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS BELONGING TO DR. ROBERT WILLIAMS, OF THE CROASE HOUSE, KINGSLAND.

This fine collection comprises specimens of the eggs of nearly all the British birds, and of many North-American species.

Among the former are clutches of the Golden White-tailed, and Spotted, Eagles, a long series of Ospreys, very richly marked, many beautiful varieties of the Kestrel and Sparrow-Hawk, also Kites, Buzzards, and Harriers. A detailed account of the eggs of almost every British bird not being called for, our remarks will be confined to local and the more rare species. Many of the Owls are here, including the Great Eagle-Owl, Snowy, the Long-eared, Short-eared, and several other species. The nest of the Pied Flycatcher was found last year; the first time it has been recorded in the county; its eggs are to be seen. Also the Grasshopper Warbler. Its nest is so artfully concealed, often at the bottom of a tuft of coarse grass, that it is very difficult to detect. The eggs of the Cuckoo, with companion eggs of the Hedge-Sparrow, Robin, Sedge Warbler, and (most unusual occurrence) the Song Thrush, affording such a contrast both in size and colour, is a feature of much interest; but especially so are the pair of eggs of the Sand Grouse, from the fact of this bird having invaded this country in large flocks in 1888, and having disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared; its egg resembles that of the Moorhen, rather smaller and of a greenish shade. Nearly all the Game birds' eggs are here, including those of the Capercaillie, Great Bustard, &c. Series of the beautifully-marked and elegantly-shaped eggs of the various Sandpipers, Gadwits, Snipes, Crakes, and Phalaropes, with local specimens of the Woodcock. The various species of Swans, Geese, Ducks, and Grebes make a very extensive exhibition, including a great number of species; very noticeable also are a clutch of the Whooper Swan and very dark varieties of the Little Grebe, nearly black; the egg when freshly laid is white. The strangely-coloured Divers, including the Great Northern, Black, and Red-throated. A long series of the Common Guillemot, containing many richly-marked specimens, the various Terns, Gulls and Petrels forming an endless variety of markings and colourings, must bring this record to its conclusion.

Thanks having been accorded to Dr. Williams for the great treat afforded to them by the examination of so representative an exhibition of eggs of British birds, the members, resuming their seats in the carriages, continued the drive through the village of Kingsland as far as the stone pedestal, erected by public subscription in 1799 to commemorate the battle of Mortimer's Cross. The site of the battle was one mile further north; the so-called Battle Field Oak or Gospel