NOTES. In these strict game-preserving times, when the fortunes of the grouse and pheasant occupy the time and thought of our politicians and sportsmen, it may not be uninteresting to note the condition of England with regard to game a hundred and seventy years since. Lord Macaulay tells us that, "in the year 1700, in Gloucestershire and Hampshire, red-deer were as common as they now are among the Grampian Hills. On one occasion, Queen Anne, on her way to Portsmouth, saw a herd of no less than five hundred. The wild bull, with its white mane, was still to be found wandering in a few of the southern forests. The badger made his dark and tortuous hole on the side of every hill, where the copse wood grew thick. The wild cats were frequently heard by night wailing round the lodges of the rangers of Whittlebury and Needwood. The yellow-breasted martin was still pursued in Cranbourne Chase for its fur, reputed inferior to only that of the sable. Ten eagles, measuring more than nine feet between the extremities of the wings, preyed on fish all along the coast of Norfolk. On all the Downs, from the British Channel to Yorkshire, huge bustards strayed in troops of fifty or sixty, and were often hunted by greyhounds. The marshes of Cambridge and Lincoln were covered, during some months of every year, by immense clouds of cranes. Some of these races the progress of civilization has extirpated; of others, the numbers have so much diminished that men crowd to gaze at a specimen, as at a Bengal tiger or Polish bear." Happy times, indeed, for British sportsmen who, in the "good old days," could find congenial employment for the hound and gun, without leaving their own hospitable shores. attention in John's reign. This was a patriarch among trees APROPOS of trees, the following are the dimensions of some C. O. A. OLD HOUSES AT THETFORD. AMONGST the other antiquities to be found in the ancient town of Thetford, in Norfolk, are several old houses of the 16th century, which exhibit unmistakable signs of the socalled "Herring-bone work." These curious structures are said now to be scarce in the Eastern Counties, but probably if the old plastered Elizabethan structures, with projecting upper stories, which are still not uncommon in country towns and villages, were more carefully scrutinized, a large number of specimens of this kind of domestic architecture might be met with. Generally, they are overlaid with so many coatings of white or yellow wash, that it is not easy outer walls, which a more careful examination will disclose. at first sight to discern the peculiar zigzag workings on the As these houses are very old, and in many instances dilapidated, it has been thought worth while by the local press to put on record the fact of their existence in this town. Amongst the best existing specimens are a dwelling-house and offices in Tanner-street, the property of Mr. James Cronshey; two more in Old Market-street (now in a very downfally condition), the property of Mr. S. C. Bidwell; the beer-house, in Castle-lane, known as the Good Woman, and the cottage adjoining, are also fair specimens of herring-bone work. Two or three houses in Back-street (now St. Nicholas-street), and the Rose and Crown publichouse, are also fine specimens of the same period. One or two of these contain some excellent carved oak paneling and other work (especially the last mentioned) of a most interesting description. The Bell Hotel, and the house and shop, of stud work, in White Hart-street, are probably somewhat earlier than those mentioned above, but from their massive oak-timber construction they are likely to remain as interesting specimens of a past age to a somewhat later period than those noticed above, which have at best a rugged and ruinous appearance. OUR military readers may not be generally aware that Meyrick, in his "History of Ancient Armour," supposes the derivation of the name 66 dragoon" to be from dragon, because, in his own words, "mounted on horseback, with lighted match, he seemeth like a fiery dragon." This, if ANCIENT DOCUMENTS OF THE SEE OF improbable, has the merit of being fanciful. AMONGST the most peculiar of the many strange tenures by which landed estates have been held, that of the Staffords, of Eyam, in Derbyshire, is not the least singular. It is that they shall keep a lamp perpetually burning on the altar of St. Helen's, in Eyam parish church. We are not told if this condition led to any of the family subsequently adopting the lamp-lighting profession, but we do not greatly think it | did. THE odd phrase, to "rule the roast," is thus defined by Johnson. The word "roast" was originally written "roist," which signifies a tumult; and the saying, therefore, implies a power to direct the rabble. AT Trotworth there was, twenty-five years since, a chestnut-tree, fifty-seven feet in circumference, and the branches of which covered a quarter of an acre. It was spoken of in the reign of king Stephen, and it also attracted much | EXETER. DR. TEMPLE has proposed to deposit with the corporation of Exeter, for the museum, the following records : 1. A gift of land by Edward, King of the Saxons, in the year 976. 2.. A gift of a messuage at Clyst by King Edgar, A.D. 951. 3. A grant of lands in Tewarnhill and Bodenham by King Edgar, A.D. 960. 4. A charter of King Athelstan in favour of the Monas. tery at Bodmin. 5. A grant of lands at Bampton, in Oxfordshire, to Bishop Leofric, by William the Conqueror, A.D. 1069. 6. A gift of a messuage by King Canute, A.D. 1031. 7. A charter of King Athelstan in relation to lands at Culmstock. 8. A gift of lands in Cornwall to Bishop Aldred by King Edward, A.D. 1059. 9. A charter by King Edgar to his faithful vassal Wolfnoth of lands in Cornwall, A.D. 967. 10. A grant by King Canute of lands in Cornwall to Bishop Burhwold, A.D. 1018. 11. A grant of seven messuages, situate in Dawlish, to his chaplain Leofric, by King Edward, A.D. 1044. 12. Part of a Saxon boundary of Dartmoor. 13. A grant by King Athelstan to the Monastery of St. Mary, Exeter. 14. A charter of King Stephen concerning the liberties of the church, &c., A.D. 1136. The only authentic copy known to be now existing. 15. Charter of John, Count of Moreton, afterwards King of England, concerning forest rights in the county of Devon. 16. A grant from King Henry II. to the Monastery of St. Martin in France, to which the Priory of St. James, near Exeter, was appropriated. 17. Charter of King Henry concerning fugitives, &c. RESTORATIONS. side of the city of Smyrna are the volcanic peaks of the Two Brothers, and it is much to be feared, after late disturbances of the district, some fearful earthquake is imminent. PARIS. The Chronique des Arts tells us that the Archduke Charles Louis has availed himself of his sojourn in Constantinople to serve the ends of the Exposition Universelle to be held at Vienna next year. The Sultan has consented to place his artistic treasures at the service of the Exposition, and the Archduke has selected a great number of precious objects from the Imperial palaces, including furniture, vases, arms, manuscripts, &c., which will be shown at Vienna. Archæologically as well as artistically speaking, this is news of the greatest interest. ROME BATHFORD. This church has been reopened after restora-vanni Battista de Rossi, Carlo Visconti, Augusto Castellani, tion under the superintendence of Mr. Frederick Preedy, of London. The alteration just completed may be considered a total rebuilding of nave, south aisle, and the chancel, only a few square yards of the old walls of the latter remaining. In taking down the old chancel arch and other parts, fragments of Norman stonework, such as capitals, archstones, &c., were found in the walls, also the effigy of a bishop of the 10th century, supposed to be St. Swithin, to whom the church is dedicated. FINCHLEY PARISH CHURCH.-The parish church of Finchley, which is one of the most ancient structures of its kind in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, is about to be enlarged and restored. The enlargement includes the erection of a new south aisle and chapel, together with a new chancel. The present old-fashioned pews are to be removed and replaced by open benches. In the alterations about to be made the architectural features of the church will not be interfered with. A suggestion to build a new church in a central position, and take down the present structure, meets with no favour. WALWYN'S CASTLE CHURCH.-The restoration of this church is shortly to be proceeded with. Some years ago difficulties connected with the locality caused its stoppage, whilst several portions of the sacred structure remained unroofed, and before any of the flooring had been laid. As a consequence divine service has been since held in the schoolroom. Mr. E. H. Lingen Barker, the architect, has been appointed to carry out the necessary works. FOREIGN. GREECE. Among the famous sights of Smyrna which are seldom seen by casual visitors are the tomb of Tantalus on the opposite side of the bay, and the lake of Tantalus in the chain of Sipylus. According to the classic historians, beside the rock-cut image of Cybele, here there was once a city of Tantalis, which was destroyed by an earthquake. Since the eruption of Vesuvius the lake has been sensibly affected. This lake, the crater of a volcano supposed to be extinct, and amid volcanic formations, is reputed to be fathomless, although an English naval officer settled that point many years ago. At this time of the year it is a place for pic-nics from the summer-town of Bournabat, but now sight-seers and tourists are proceeding thither because the two peaks above the lake are visibly sinking. Not only so, but two fissures have opened, from one of which warm water flows, and in the other ruins are to be recognised of a fine city. Such is the local report we have received. On the other Mr. C. J. Hemans, writing from Rome, says :—The Municipal Junta has nominated a new Commission of Archæology, in place of that created soon after the change of government here, and composed of seven members: GioVirginio Vespignani, Rodolfo Lanciani, Franceso Vitelleschi, and Pietro Rosa. The acceptance of office by the first, second, and fourth of the above-named gentlemen is noteworthy, and implies, in fact, alliance and conciliation between those hitherto opposed. Abilities ably exercised under the Pontifical authority are thus secured for support and co-operation to a commission in which the other element, the party represented, we may say, by Signor Rosa, is also found. This measure promises a better system of procedure through united agency and deference to the counsels of all, instead of dependence on the decisions of one-which latter practice is believed to have been too commonly that of the formerly-appointed commission. CENTENARIANS. THE death is announced of Mrs. Sarah Bowen, at Haverfordwest, who had, it is stated, attained the age of nearly 102 years. She was born in the ninth year of the reign of king George III., during the shrievalty of Thomas Skyrme, of Vaynor. She enjoyed good health, and retained full possession of all her faculties until within a few months of her death. At the age of 100 years she was able to take her daily walk and actively bear her share in the duties of the household. DEATH OF A VETERAN.-Jonas Williams, a Welsh veteran, who served under John Moore at Corunna, has just died at the advanced age of ninety-nine. A brief notice of the deceased says that he joined the 1st Regiment of Guards in 1801, and served at Corunna, at which time the late Lord Clyde was an ensign, and was one of the retreating party. Williams was taken prisoner, and for three years confined in an Alpine fortress, whence he managed to effect his escape, tramping through France and getting over in a fishing smack. In 1814 he was in the Coldstream Guards, but arrived too late for Waterloo; and in the year 1825 he received a pension of 9d. a day. Till twelve months ago he was a hale hearty man, and worked at his trade as a tailor, but latterly he was assisted by a charitable society. OBITUARY. MR. RICHARD GROVE LOWE. THIS gentleman, who was a prominent member of the St. Alban's Archæological and Architectural Society, died at St. Alban's, on Friday, the 28th of June, aged 71. At the time of his death he was the senior alderman of the borough, and had through life been settled therein, for many years in practice as a solicitor. He had considerable acquaintance with the Roman and other antiquities of the neighbourhood; and the site of the Roman theatre, not far from St. Michael's church, was first pointed out by him. His collection of coins, carefully brought together, is said to contain some specimens of unique interest. MISCELLANEA. FUSELI. - -"The Dream of Queen Katherine," spoken of by Allan Cunningham, and engraved by Bortolozzi, which was counted as lost in a fire that consumed the property of Mr. Watts, the celebrated publisher, has recently been brought forward by a member of the family. It is a fair example of the peculiar style of the artist, and has good qualities. The picture may be seen in Mr. Robinson's shop, in Brownlow-street, Holborn. "FLINT JACK" AGAIN.-The notorious forger of antiquities (who gives the name of Edward Simpson, of Whitby) has, it appears, been very active of late. He has turned up at Stamford, where it is stated he has been busy manufacturing rings, monastic seals, and flint arrow heads. Mr. A. C. Elliott, of Stamford, has had the man photographed, and intends to circulate copies, that inexperienced collectors may recognise the fabricator on his first visit. THE ARUNDEL SOCIETY will publish, in autotype, early in the autumn, a selection of transcripts from the well-known collection belonging to the Duke of Devonshire, comprising twenty of the more important of the series known as "The Chatsworth Raphaels.' The society will also publish a work on the "Architecture of the Ruined Buildings, near Delhi," by Lieut. H. H. Cole, R.E. DICK WHITTINGTON's statue, erected where he heard, like Irving," those bells," has been removed and sold to a publican, who has had Dick stuck up over his door at Highgate, and repainted. AN ANCIENT MONEY-BOX.-At the last meeting of the Exeter town council, the mayor exhibited an iron box which had been found in the muniment-room of the council. He believed it was the box that belonged to the Mayor's Court. It was made of iron, and was about 18 inches by 9. It was very curiously studded with locks, there being no less than five, and the precautions to prevent the money being abstracted were very curious. He suggested that it should he placed in the Albert Memorial Museum, on certain conditions with reference to its safe custody, and returned if required. The town clerk said he had found entries in the records of "proceeds of the box," and he meant to search for the earliest of them. He believed the box must be about 600 years old. It was curious to see how zealously the box was protected by locks, but an ordinary blacksmith could force out the pins without touching a single lock. The suggestion of the mayor was approved of. DISCOVERY AT GORLESTON CHURCH.-During the progress of the works connected with the restoration of the fine old church at Gorleston, near Yarmouth, the workmen discovered traces of some rich colouring on the north wall of the edifice, which on being exposed by carefully removing the plaster, proved to be a gigantic figure of St. Christopher, bearing on his right shoulder the infant Jesus, the head of the latter being surrounded by a nimbus; the infant Jesus also holds a cup in his left hand over the head of the saint. Beneath are the turbulent waters, through which St. Christopher is striding; on one side is what seems to be a castle, and on the other a hermitage. The head of the saint is very perfect, and the colours bright, but the surrounding objects are not fully uncovered, and are somewhat obscure. Mr. C. J. A. Winter, of Norwich, is engaged in making an accurate drawing of the figures. Drury, in his "history of Gorleston Church, "recounts the fact of the walls being at one time adorned with paintings, and we believe that it was this record that led to the discovery in the present instance. THE CHANTRY HOUSE, CASTLE DONINGTON.-Many will regret (says the Derby Mercury) to see the removal of the old Chantry House from the churchyard, Castle Donington, which was much admired. Dr. Wilson Pearson, a vice-president of the British Archæological Association, who, in 1862, wrote a paper on the "Medieval History of Castle Donington," says it is highly probable that Thomas Hasilridge, who founded the chantry in 1509, conjointly with Harold Staunton, was Sir Robert Hasilridge's son. Elenora, mother of Thomas Hasilridge, died in 1592, and the chantry had then been licensed for upwards of twenty years "for one priest to sing divine service in the Chapel of our Lady, there to pray for the founder's soul, &c." The Chantry House, where the priest resided who chanted masses daily, is supposed to be still in existence, although the changing hand of time and alteration has despoiled it of its primitive simplicity. The old building, judging from the quaint-looking gable which projects into the churchyard, was nothing more than the "frame and pane Domestic architecture common in the middle-class houses of that period. AN Austrian savan has discovered, by means of a microscope, in a brick taken from the pyramid of Dashour, many interesting particulars connected with the life of the ancient Egyptians. The brick itself is made of mud of the Nile, chopped straw and sand, thus confirming what the Bible and Herodotus had handed to us as to the Egyptian method of brickmaking. Besides these materials, the microscope of fish, and of insects, seeds of wild and cultivated flowers, has brought other things to light-the debris of river-shells, corn and barley, the field-pea, and the common flax, cultivated probably both for food and textile purposes, and the radish, with many others known to science, There were also manufactured products, such as fragments of tiles and Pottery, and even small pieces of string made of flax and sheep's wool. by Cooper, and said to be the only authentic likeness of A PORTRAIT of Milton, taken whilst he was at Cambridge him at that period of his life, has been purchased by Mr. Graves, of Pall Mall. This little work has been in the possession of Dr. Prowett for the last sixty years. BARON ROTHSCHILD has purchased, for 3000 guineas, the whole-length portrait of Mrs. Sheridan, by Gainsborough, exhibited in the Academy in 1783, and which was for a long time at Delapre Abbey, where Sheridan was a frequent visitor.. THE MEDIEVAL CURSE.-The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has come upon an early MS. of the Athanasian Creed, in the public library at Utrecht-a very early copy he believes, as early as the seventh century at least, which contains the damnatory clauses in their perfection. Canon Swainson does not think it is so old. The Levant Herald announces that Mr. George Abdullah, the photographer, of Constantinople, has appeared as an author. He writes upon the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Armenia, but whether in Armenian or not does not appear. His work is said to be chiefly founded on the investigations of Dr. Mordtmann. ON THE ANTIQUARY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1872. WELSH ARCHEOLOGY. * As regards Britain and Ireland then (in which latter country similarly constructed remains are now known by the names of bee-hive houses, or huts and clochans), the hypothesis of the circular or oval form, being pre-Roman forms, appears undeniable, but it does not exclude the posssibility of many of them having been occupied during the Roman era, neither does it seem at all improbable that some of them were built during the earlier period of the occupation of this THE ANCIENT DWELLINGS OF ANGLESEY, CALLED island by the Romans. For instance, the Round Towers "CYTTIAU'R GWYDDELOD." (Continued from p. 119.) 66 "The of Ireland and Scotland were built long after the coming of the Romans, the plan of the foundations being essentially Celtic, in the sense that they are not Roman.‡ Again, the Pict's-houses of Scotland have the same form of In the previous articles on the "Cyttiau'r Gwyddelod," foundation as the Cyttiau'r Gwyddelod of Wales. "The I have attempted to lay before my readers the most import- ground plan of these buildings, whether great or small, ant results of the Hon. O. Stanley's excavations in Anglesey is circular. The elevation is a kind of dome, and the of circular remains known by that name, which disclose the general form closely resembles a bee-hive. This arises manner of living and mode of defence of the builders of from construction, as the wall converges by each sucthose dwellings. The construction of them is, with a few ceeding course of stones projecting inwards, and beyond exceptions, circular, which seems to be a Celtic feature, and the former, until the space is sufficiently contracted to be as will be seen upon a fuller examination of individual cases covered by one stone." The roof, although of the same than I have here attempted, this hypothesis is supported by material as the walls, does not separate the structure very strong evidence. The circular mode of building is, racially, by that fact, from those dwellings where the coverhowever, not by any means exclusively confined to the Celtic ings were made of slighter and less durable materials, but race, for the circular form for their dwelling seems to have indicates merely a more advanced state of civilization, been almost universally adopted by the earliest races of men Pict's-houses resembled, as nearly as the difference of in all countries. The nomad tribes of the East, the earliest materials and the nature of the country permitted, those of all, formed their circular tents with a few poles, probably, occupied by the inhabitants of the more fertile and less covered with skins, before the invention of cloth made of hilly districts. In the eastern divisions, the Caledonians camels' hair, removing their tents from time to time as they had groups of houses, built of wood and reeds, raised on required fresh pasture for their flocks and herds. The circular stone foundations, and numerous circular strongsavage tribes also of Africa, the wild Indians of America, holds for security in periods of disturbance. the islanders of the Pacific, the inhabitants of New Guinea, The larger Pict's-houses are like the smaller, viz., circular who construct circular houses on platforms over the water, in form, built of unhewn stones carefully joined, but without like the ancient lake-dwellers on the Swiss lakes, the Esqui- cement of any kind."|| maux, with his ice-formed hut, and the Lapp, all adopt the circular form to this day."+ But in the majority of cases in Great Britain, all the different kinds of dwellings, partially underground and wholly above ground, the oval or circular form is observed, and helps to substantiate the hypothesis of their being the productions of the Celta. It must be remembered that the Roman remains of habitations are not of the circular or oval form, but rectangular. Still stronger proof of their pre-Roman origin is found in Cæsar, where is described the dwellings of the Britons as similar to those of the Gauls; and these, we learn from Strabo and Diodorus Siculus, were constructed of wood, of a circular form, and with lofty tapering roofs of straw.‡ In speaking of the nature of the habitation of our ancestors, Sir Richard Colt Hoare says, in his "Ancient Wiltshire," "We have undoubted proof from history, and from existing remains, that the earlier habitations were pits, or slight excavations in the ground, covered and protected from the inclemency of the weather by boughs of trees and sods of turf." Sec Antiquary, Nos. 27, 28, pp. 106, 107, 118, 119. "De Bell. Gall.," lib. v. cap. 12. Wilson's "Pre-Historic Annals of Scotland," vol. 1 p. 106. Lubbock's "Pre-Historic Times," Ist edit p. 125. Ab Ithel's Traditionary Annals of the Cymry,' p. 183. The Very Rev. Dean of Bangor's Address, in the Report of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Camb. Arch. Association, held at Bangor, 1860, p. 9. The weems of Scotland are another form of primitive dwellings, which are subterranean, and are built of rude stones without any cement; and in places where stones could be found of sufficient size, they were placed upright in the sides, others laid horizontally across formed the roof, and completed the primitive structure. In outward appearance, no clue is presented to the observer of their whereabouts, the roofs being on a level with the ground, and overgrown with grass, heather, &c. Various articles have been discovered in them, viz., large rings, querns, bones, deer's horns, and bones.¶ Abundant indications of the weems having been occupied as dwelling places are afforded also by the accumulation of wood or peat ashes found in them, and the presence of the bones of the ox and other large animals, shaped into the form of handles to receive some kind of cutting implements.** Turning our attention to England, the most important remains of dwellings of the pre-Roman circular form, are found at Dartmoor, in which region Mr. C. Spence Bate has done some most important *London Quarterly Review, Oct. 1869, pp. 402-404. Joyce's "Irish Names," 3rd edit. p. 352. Petric's "Round Towers." Stoke's "Memoirs of Dr. Petric," Forbes Leslie's "Early Races of Scotland," vol. ii. p. 348. ¶ Forbes Leslie, Z.c. vol. ii. p. 353. Wilson, Z.c. vol. i. pp. 106-108. work.* He describes them as existing in clusters in some places, and as solitary dwellings in others. "Sometimes in connection with what we call Druidical remains (for want of a better name), sometimes in connection with ancient stream-tin workings; and sometimes associated with enclosures of small tracts of cultivation. These hut-dwellings were generally built with a double row of stones closely put together, the outer one being about two feet distant from the inner. These hut-circles range generally from nine feet in diameter to five-and-thirty; and inside some of these of medium size at the centre, is frequently a small heap of stones, which has been supposed to have been the remains of a fireplace. The interior and upper portions of the walls of these circles were undoubtedly built with turf cut from the surrounding country."+ The roof of these huts were, in the opinion of Mr. C. Spence Bate, built in the shape of a cone. The small heap of stones often found in the centre, and supposed by some writers to be the remains of the fireplace, as just stated, was, this writer believes, "a spot on which an upright pole was fixed for the purpose of supporting the centre: thus the turf was gradually built inwards until it was necessary to support it from within. In larger dwellings no such stones are apparent, and we must therefore assume that their greater span required other mode of support. Thus we may imagine that the turf-roof was kept up by a series of rafters, or poles, resting one of the ends on the external wall, while the others met together at the middle, and here being tied together by some strips of bark, they formed the apex of the roof, when probably the imperfect connection of the materials allowed the escape of smoke from the fire within." These remarks fully endorse the opinion of the Hon. W. O. Stanley, who says, Having examined a great many huts I am almost certain the roof was formed of turf supported by poles." § As at Ty-Mawr, so at Dartmoor, smaller circles occur in the neighbourhood of the larger ones, serving the purposes of storehouses, and other uses necessary for existence; they being far too small for habitation. July 25, 1872. J. JEREMIAH, Jun., M.A.I. (To be continued.) NAZING CHURCH.-EPITAPHS. A VERY pleasant journey it is from Waltham Abbey to Nazing; the distance about five miles. The pedestrian, taking Galley Hill route, will find that a gradual ascent continues most of the way from Waltham Abbey; which makes the return journey truly delightful, and doubly appreciable to the tired and weary traveller. The lane leading to the church from Nazing Common is exceedingly pic turesque. Rustic looking thatched homesteads (some apparently of respectable antiquity), dot the scene here and there: and the well-kept gardens show much for the ཎྞ "Antiquities in Holyhead Island," 1st memoir, p. 6. || "Nazing, is in Doomsday-book, written Nessingham, Nessinga, Nessinges, from the Saxon word nase, or nose, a projection; ing, a meadow."-Elizabeth Ogborne's "History of Essex," p. 228. frugality and industry of their occupiers. From some of these cottages, when the shades of evening appear, may be seen the weary agricultural labourer, sitting before his door and taking his ease, solacing himself the while with the fragrant weed-the soother of many troubles-watching, maybe, the gambols of the merry little "shock-headed" prattlers, counterparts of himself, who run round and about him in high glee, and exuberance of spirits. "Bless their hearts, he loves them all!" is evident from the happy smile upon his radiant features. The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, has a chancel, nave, and north aisle, built with stones and flint. The tower is of red brick, and has a shingle spire. The porch is built of wood, and paved with red tiles, placed upon their edges and packed closely together. There are, however, two coffin-shaped stones in the middle of the porch leading directly into the church. The outside of the building appears to be in good state of preservation, but the inside shows extensive signs of decay. oak seats are well worthy of attention, being ornamented The antiquated by grotesque carved characters on the ends. The history of the church is thus given by Ogborne, in her "History of Essex ”— "Nazing church, appropriated by Harold to his newly King Edward the Confessor to the dean and eleven secular founded Abbey of Waltham Holy Cross, was confirmed by canons of the Benedictine order, with the most ample privileges.+ After their dissolution by Henry II., in 1177, that king placed there an abbot, and regular canons of the order of St. Augustine, and confirmed them in the former grants made to the abbey, by a charter, dated at Winchester, wherein Nazing is described as the land allotted to buy clothing for the canons. Richard I., October 20, in the first year of his reign, confirmed the lordship of Nazing to them, with all its wastes, and with a grant of 160 acres of essart land; and by a further grant, dated from Canterbury, December 1, in the same year, of the churches of St. John the Baptist, in New Windsor, and All Saints, in Hertford, towards maintaining hospitality: and the church of Nazing, with Alrichsea, in Bedfordshire, for their apparel, enjoining them to keep these churches in their own hands and not grant them to any one. This church was first supplied from the canons of Waltham, or by persons appointed by them." Bright, in his "History of Essex," gives a similar account of this church. Lewis's Topographical Diction tionary" records it but briefly; and then, singularly enough, we find there stated, that Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, and Dr. Thomas Fuller, were respectively vicars of this parish. The author probably had in mind Waltham Abbey, which parish these worthies at the different periods represented. The oldest memorial in the churchyard, is a black marble slab, surmounted by coat of arms (nearly effaced), inscribed as follows:-" Here lyeth buried ye Body of Mr. William Knight who Departed this life June ye 1st 1720 Aged 78 years." Also, on the same slab, Elizabeth, the wife of the above, who died 1726, aged 78 years. The next in point of antiquity, is of white marble, and commemorates the demise of Robert Young, and his wife Diana; the former dying in 1725, aged 72; the later in 1730-75. There are also headstones erected respectively to William Want, ob. 1739 (29); Edward Want, The stones here mentioned are of the same shape as a coffi-nlid, with flat surfaces, and bear no trace of any inscription whatever. Such stones or slabs are not uncommon in some of our old churches. Can any correspondent give the probable date when they were commonly used? "Mon Ang.," Vol. II. "Jeremy Dyke, vicar of this parish, of the time of King Charles I., was distinguished as the author of numerous publications on There are two traditions in connection with this place; one says subjects of general interest and importance. Some that a gallows formerly stood in this locality, whence the name (?). account is given of Dyke in Dyer's History of Cambridge,' vol The other mentions this as the spot where the poor persecuted Non-II., p. 428. Wright's Dyke was at one time vicar of Epping."conformists of Nazing and Waltham usually met for divine service. "Essex," book II. p. 467. |