The above inscriptions have been extracted from the Rev. W. Palin's "Stifford and its Neighbourhood." Other inscriptions are given, but they are carelessly arranged, and cannot be reproduced here.

ANCIENT BELL AT PRISTON.-On a bell at Priston near Bath is the following curious inscription, which at the first glance may seem almost unintelligible :

+ HELPOVS ANDRV VVEBIDDITHYE EVREBY FORYE TRINITIE

The letters are handsomely ornamented, and each has been impressed with a separate stamp. The initial cross, consisting of a cross patteé tipped with fleur-de-lis, and having an inverted fleur-de-lis at each angle, has been identified by that venerable campanologist, Mr. H. T. Ellacombe, as one used by Robert Norton, of Exeter, a bellfounder who flourished in the time of Henry VI. This alone would assign a pre-Reformation date to this bell; but, on the other hand, Mr. Ellacombe is of opinion that it was cast, not by Norton, but by some brother craftsmen who lived at a later period, and who had obtained possession of the old stamps. It is well known that the legends on pre-Reformation bells are invariably written in Latin, but here we evidently have an attempt at two English doggrel rhymes, thus:

It would seem, therefore, that this interesting old bell at Priston is of post-Reformation date, probably cast late in the 16th century.

THE OLD PEAL AT ST. MICHAEL's, Coventry"Mottos upon the Bells in St. Michael's steeple, copied by H [umphrey] W [anley], Jan. 7th, 1690-1.

1. CANTATE DOMINO CANTICVM NOVVM 1675. H. B. 2. HENRY BAGLEY MADE MEE 1675

3. T. E. F. GEORG. DOWNING A DV S M 1675

4. I RING AT SIX TO LET MNE KNOW WHEN TOO AND FROM THEAIR WORKE TO GO 1673 5. RICHARD COLING IOHN REMINGTON THOMAS REDHAED HVMPHVEY THACKER IOHN LILLEY RALPH PHILLIPS CHVRCHWARDENS 1675

6. HENRY BAGLEY MADE MEE 1675

7. I RING TO SERMON WITH A LVSTY BOME

Harl. MS., 6030.

Taken by J. H. and H. W.,
January 3d, 1690-1."
E. H. W. DUNKIN.

"The peoples Ancient and Just Liberties, asserted in the Tryal of William Penn, and William Mead, at the Sessions held at the Old-Baily in London, the first, third, fourth, and fifth of Sept. 70, against the most arbitrary procedure of that Court. Printed in the year, 1670.

There being present on the Bench, as Justices. Sam. Starling, Mayor; John Howel, Recorder; Tho. Bludsworth, Alderm.; William Peak, Alderm.; Richard Ford, Alderm.; John Roberson, Alderm.; Joseph Shelden, Alderm.; Richard Brown; John Smith, James Edwards,

Sheriffs.

The Indictment.

HOME 1675

8. I AM AND HÅVE BEEN CALD THE COMON BELL TO RING WHEN FIER BREAKS OVT TO TELL 1675

"The old 6 Bells were taken down and broken in pieces May 26, 1675, and cast into 8, May 29, 1675. The weight of the old 6 Bells

was as followeth

"I have heard told by severall eminent Ringers that the old 5th bell for sound was one of the best if not the very best bell in England, whereof he yt broke these 6 was one-he said he thought he should never have broke it, and that it was of the basest mettall of any bel that ever he saw. The churchwardens would fain have saved it to have been the Tener for the new set but the founder would not undertake to caast a new ring to it. As for the old Tener it must have been taken down presently or else it would have fell down of it self for the cannons of it were so rotten within by age, that the founder wondered that it hung in the steeple so long and that it did not fall when it was lett down by ropes. Now the 3d bell of this present ring hath no cannons, for they broke, so that there is

Arms, &c., in the Parish of St. Bent Grace-Church in Bridge Ward London, in the street called Grace-Church-Street, unlawfully and tumultuously did assemble and congregate themselves together, to the disturbance of the Peace of the said Lord the King: and the aforesaid William Penn and William Mead, together with other persons, to the Jurors afore said unknown, then and there so assembled and congregated together the aforesaid William Penn, by agreement between him and William Mead, before made; and by abetment of the aforesaid William Mead then and there, in the open street, did take upon himself to preach and speak, and then. and there, did preach and speak, unto the aforesaid William assembled and congregated together, by reason whereof a Mead, and other persons there, in the street aforesaid, being great concourse and tumult of People in the street aforesaid, then and there, along time did remain and continue, in con tempt of the said Lord the King, and of his Law, to the great disturbance of his Peace, to the great terror and disturbance of many of his Leige people and Subjects, to the ill example of all others, in the like case Offenders, and against the Peace of the said Lord the King, his Crown, and Dignity.

What say you, William Penn and William Mead, are you guilty, as you stand indicted, in manner and form, as aforesaid, or not guilty.

Pen. It is impossible, that we should be able to remember the Indictment verbatim, and therefore we desire a Copy of it, as is customary in the like occasions.

Rec. You must first plead to the Indictment, before you can have a Copy of it.

Pen. I am unacquainted with the formality of the Law, and therefore, before I shall answer directly, I request two things of the Court. First, that no advantage may be taken against me, nor I deprived of any benefit, which I might otherwise have received. Secondly, that you will promise me a fair hearing, and liberty of making my defence. Court. No advantage shall be taken against you; you shall have liberty, you shall be heard.

Pen. Then I plead not guilty in manner and form. Cla. What sayest thou William Mead, art thou guilty in manner, and form, as thou standest indicted, or not guilty? Mead. I shall desire the same liberty as is promised William Penn.

Court. You shall have it.

Mead. Then I plead not guilty in manner and form. The Court adjourned until the afternoon.

Cryer. O yes, &c.

Cla. Bring William Penn and William Mead to the Bar. Obser. The said Prisoners were brought, but were set aside, and other business prosecuted. Where we cannot choose but observe, that it was the constant and unkind practices of the Court, to the Prisoners, to make them wait upon the Tryals of Fellons and Murderers, thereby designing in all probability, both to affront and tire them.

After five hours attendance, the Court broke up and adjourned to the third instant.

The third of September, 1670, the Court sate.

Rec. Why do you not put off your Hat then? Pen. Because I do not believe, that to be any respect. Rec. Well, the Court sets forty Marks apiece upon your Heads, as a Fine for your contempt of the Court.

Pen. I desire it might be observed, that we came into the Court with our Hats off, (that is, taken off) and if they have been put on since, it was by order from the Bench; and therefore not we, but the Bench should be fined.

Mead. I have a Question to ask the Recorder, Am I fined also ?

tenderness of Conscience in avoiding reiterated Oaths, to have put him by his being a Jury-man, apprehending him to be a person, not fit to answer their arbitrary ends. The Clark read the indictment, as aforesaid,

Cla. Cryer, Call James Cook, into the Court, give him his Oath.

Cl. James Cook, lay your hand upon the book, "The evidence you shall give to the Court, betwixt our Soverain the King, and the Prisoners at the Bar, shall be the Truth, and the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth, so help you God, &c"

Cook. I was sent for, from the Exchange, to go and disperse a Meeting in Gracious-street, where I saw Mr. Penn speaking to the people, but I could not hear what he said, because of the noise, I endeavoured to make way to take him, but I could not get to him for the crowd of people; upon which Captain Mead came to me, about the Kennel of the Street, and desired me to let him go on; for when he had done, he would bring Mr. Penn to me.

Court. What number do you think might be there ? Cook. About three or four hundred People. Court. Call Richard Read, Give him his Oath. Read being sworn was askt, What do you know concerning the Prisoners at the Bar?

Read. My Lord, I went to Gracious-Street, where I found a great crowd of People, and I heard Mr. Penn preach to them; and I saw Captain Mead speaking to Lievtenant Cook, but what he said I could not tell. Mead. What did William Penn say?

Read. There was such a great noise, that I could not tell what he said.

Mead. Jury, observe this Evidence, he saith he heard him preach, and yet saith, He doth not know what he said. Jury take notice, he swares now a clean contrary thing, to what he swore before the Mayor, when we were committed for now he swares that he saw me in GraciousStreet, and yet swore before the Mayor, when I was committed, that he did not see me there. I appeal to the Mayor himself if this be not true; but no answer was given. Cour. What number do you think might be there. Read. About four or five hundred.

Pen. I desire to know of him what day it was?
Read. The 14th day of August.

Pen. Did he speak to me, or let me know he was there; for I am very sure I never saw him. Cla. Cryer, Call

Cour. Give him his Oath.

into the Court.

My Lord, I saw a great number of people, and Mr. Penn, I suppose was speaking; I see him make a motion with his hands, and heard some noise, but could not understand what he said; but for Captain Mead, I did not see him there?

Rec. What say you Mr. Mead? Were you there?

Mead. It is a Maxime in your own Law, Nemo tenetur accusare seipsum, which if it be not true Latine, I am sure it is true English, That no man is bound to accuse himself: And why dost thou offer to ensnare me with such a question? Doth not this shew thy malice? Is this like unto a Judge, that ought to be Council for the Prisoner at the Bar?

Record. Sir, hold your Tongue, I did not go about to

ensnare you.

Pen. I desire we may come more close to the point, and that silence be commanded in the Court. Cry. O yes, All manner of Persons keep silence upon pain of imprisonment Silence in the Court.

Pen. We confess our selves to be so far from recanting, or declining to vindicate the assembling of our selves, to Preach, Pray, or worship the Eternal, Holy just God, that we declare to all the World, that we do believe it to be our indispensable duty, to meet incessantly upon so good an account; nor shall all the powers upon Earth be able to divert us from reverencing and adoring our God, who made us.

Brown. You are not here for worshipping God, but for breaking the Law; you do your selves a great deal of wrong in going on in that discourse.

Pen. I affirm I have broken no Law, nor am I guilty of the Indictment that is laid to my charge, and to the end, the Bench, the Jury, and my self, with these that hear us, may have a more direct understanding of this procedure, I desire you would let me know by what Law it is you prosecute me, and upon what Law you ground my indict

ment.

Rec. Upon the Common-Law.
Pen. Where is that Common-Law.

Rec. You must not think that I am able to run up so many years, and over so many adjudged Cases, which we call Common-Law, to answer your curiosity.

Pen. This Answer I am sure is very short of my Question, for if it be Common, it should not be so hard to produce.

Rec. Sir, will you plead to your Indictment?

Pen. Shall I plead to an Indictment, that hath no Foundation in Law, if it contain that Law you say I have broken, why should you decline to produce that Law, since it will be impossible for the Jury to determine, or agree to bring in their Verdict, who have not the Law produced by which they should measure the truth of this Indictment, and the guilt, or contrary, of my fact?

Rec. You are a saucy Fellow, speak to the Indictment. Pen. I say it is my place to speak to matter of Law, I am arraigned a Prisoner, my Liberty, which is next to Life itself, is now concerned, you are many Mouths and Ears against me, and if I must not be allowed to make the best of my Case, it is hard; I say again, unless you shew me, and the People, the Law you ground your Indictment upon, I shall take it for granted, your proceedings are meerly Arbitrary. [Obser. At this time several upon the Bench urged hard upon the Prisoner to bear him down.] Rec. The Question is whether you are guilty of this Indictment?

Pen. The Question is not whether I am guilty of this Indictment, but whether this Indictment be legal, it is two general and imperfect an Answer, to say it is the Common Law, unless we knew both where, and what it is; For where there is no Law, there is no transgression; and that Law which is not in being, is so far from being Common, that it is no Law at all.

Rec. You are an impertinent Fellow, Will you teach the Court what Law is? Its Lex non scripta, that which many have studied thirty or forty years to know, and would you have me tell you in a moment?

Pen. Certainly, if the Common Law be so hard to be understood, its far from being very Common; but if the Lord Cook in his Institutes, be of any consideration, he tells us, That Common Law is Common Right, and that Common Right is the great Charter-Priviledges. Confirmed 9 Hen. 3. 29. 25 Edw. 1. 1. 2 Edw. 3. 8. Cook Inst. 2. p. 56. Rec. Sir, you are a troublesome Fellow, and it is not for the honour of the Court to suffer you to go on.

Pen. I have asked but one Question, and you have not answered me; though the Rights and Priviledges of every Englishman be concerned in it.

Rec. If I should suffer you to ask Questions till to-morrow morning you would be never the wiser.

Pen. That is according as the Answers are.

Rec. Sir, We must not stand to hear you talk all Night. Pen. I design no affront to the Court, but to be heard in my just Plea; and I must plainly tell you, that if you will deny me Oyer of that Law, which you suggest I have broken, you do at once deny me an acknowledged right, and evidence to the whole World your resolution to sacrifice the Priviledges of Englishmen, to your Sinister and Arbitrary designs.

(To be continued.)

Notes.

THE "ATHENÆUM."

IT has occurred to me that a few facts connected with the origin and history of this publication may not be without interest to some of your readers. The Athenaum was started about the year 1830, by a gentleman who had been the proprietor and editor of a journal in India, but who was expelled that country for uttering what was then accounted sedition. He found his printing office one day surrounded by the officers of the Indian Government, who took possession of his property and printing material, and obliged him to leave the country. He came to England and laid his case before the House of Commons, but failed in obtaining redress. He was, however, assisted out of the private purses of some of the leading Whig members, and with the help so obtained started the Athenæum. This person collected together a number of literary men who agreed to send contributions, their remuneration to depend on the ultimate success of the periodical. Finding, however, that they had undertaken responsibilities which, under the conditions named, it was impossible to carry out, the whole of them afterwards withdrew, with the exception of three. One of these was the Rev. Dr. Stebbing. The three gentlemen who continued their adherence were paid at the rate of a guinea a sheet. The very first article that appeared in the paper was one by Dr. (then Mr.) Stebbing. This was a review of "Lectures on Butler's Analogy," by Mr. Han pden, afterwards Bishop of Hereford. In the following number was a review, by Mr. Stebbing, of a work on "Rhe toric," by Mr. Whateley, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin. Dr. Stebbing subsequently became joint editor with the proprietor, whose undertaking, however, proved eventually unsuccessful. The Athenæum subsequently passed into the hands of the grandfather of Sir C. W. Dilke (the new proprietor of Notes and Queries) who had been pensioned off by the Government, and had a good deal of time and money at his disposal. The original projector, whose name I have forgotten, in consideration of the losses he had sustained, and of the treatment to which he had been subjected at the hands of the Indian Government, received a Civil List Pension, and on this he closed the evening of his days.

PENGUIN.

While engaged in turning over the pages of an ancient MS. preserved among the Harleian Collection of MSS. British Museum, my eye caught the following lines (being the only six lines of English in the book), which I think are worthy of the due consideration of all lovers of early English poetry. Swete ihu my swete_leman* Stedefast loue you keddest† man Vo pat blod fram pine bodi ran So pat ton bicomr al wan Swete ihu you art ful God

SACRED POETRY OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.—

For yo you us vouztes ‡ one ye rod §
Ne schaddest you nauzt aliter blod
Ac fra ye hit ran as afod

Ne seston man hou i loue ye
Bidde ich ye you do so me
En ye rode ich am for pe

You pat senegest ** let for me.

It has been well remarked that Geoffrey Chaucer was the first of our great English versifiers who wrote poetically. He was truly a poet just adapted for the period in which he flourished; a period when information and refinement

* Tyrwhitt calls it Saxon; and Junius forms it of Leof ie., loved and man, applied generally to male or female. Hence- Thys mayde hym payde suythe wel, myd God wille le her nom, And huld hyre as a lebmon."-R. GLOUCESTER. + Probably synon, with Kidgie, “lovingly attached." Bought. Rood or cross (bought on the cross). To shed. Cease to. **To sing.

made marked progress beyond that of former ages. However, without doing the least injustice to the father of English poetry, one may safely say, that no six lines of Chaucer's poetry can be superior to these, both as it regards the harmony of their numbers and the sweetness of the sentiment, for which alone they are particularly noticeable. But their antiquity is of equal interest. They will be found in the MSS. (supra) 3776, fol. 39. This manuscript contains two tracts which illustrate the early history of Waltham Abbey, written in the hand of the twelfth century, at least two centuries prior to Chaucer. Professor Stubbs considers the writing to be the work of a scribe belonging to the Abbey of Waltham, who appears to have been born cir. 1119, as he commenced his education in 1124. For two years he was in association with the Sacristan Turkill, from whom he heard all that was marvellous and legendary in the story of the founders, and which led him to pen "Vita et Miracula Haroldi quondam Regis Anglie," which is not altogether trustworthy; and also the " De Inventione Sancta Crucis," &c. He was brought up in the school of the college, under Master Peter, the son of Athelard. In due course he became a "thuribularius," trebler or censing chorister. In 1144 he was made a canon, and was one of the sufferers when the houses were burned in that year. He appears to have been indebted to the Dean Ernulf and Queen Adelicia for his promotion, and became an inmate of the monastery for fifty-three years. Although much of his history may be gleaned from his writings, yet nothing whatever is known of his name. In 1177 he was ejected by Henry II. with the rest of the secular canons, but what became of him after this is not at present known.

Waltham Abbey.

W. WINTERS.

"MY DEAR MURRAY, "The College of Edinr has sent me the copy of certain proposed regulations respecting the museum, and of resolutions of its own against these Town Council innovations. Both of these I now send you, as also Sir William Hamilton's letter to me trans mitting them. "You will see that the Professors object to these proposed rules on many accounts, one of which is that they infringe the rights of the Crown.

"I never had any doubt that the 2/6 for each admission to the museum was too high, but they seem to have corrected it with a vengeance. The College states positively that the collection must be ruined if it be thus converted into a public show, and that in point of mere finance in the meantime, it cannot be maintained. The Crown is plainly interested in this matter, but how, or to what extent it is to interfere, it is not for me to say. Perhaps the best way would be for you to write to the Provost, asking him to delay till you can have an opportunity of enquiring into the Crown's interests on the spot, which he would probably get the Council to do. "I have stated that I could do nothing but send the papers to you; but that I was ready, if invited, to attend any conference, with a view to adjust matters. "This is another of the thousand prooffs (sic) of the necessity of disposing of the report of the College Commissrs; and particularly of instituting that College Court which would rescue learning both from the rapacity of Professors and the ignorance of civic Councillors. "Yours, "The Lord Advocate."

"H. COCKBURN.

His lordship, that is Mr. Cockburn, seems evidently to have entertained no very elevated notions of the disinterestedness of the Edinburgh professors, or of the learning of the civic councillors. Perhaps as regards the latter, he may not have been far out. J. S. DK.

THE MANOR OF CLYFFE.-The following is a short account of the Manor of Cliffe, with a few of its privileges. It is extracted from a book in my possession, called "The

* De Inventione Sancta Crucis, p. 30.

Kentish Traveller's Companion," and published in the year 1779, by T. Fisher, of Rochester. The name of the author does not appear.

"The Manor of Clyffe belonged to the priory of Christchurch, Canterbury, since the time of Edward the Confessor, and the Archbishop is now the Patron of the living, which is in the Deanery of Sec. The Rector is exempt from the authority of the Dean of Arches, Shoreham, and of course subject to the peculiar jurisdiction of that but is subject to visitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Clyffe. In the old MSS he is styled the 'Ordinary' of his parish, and though doubtless of old the Rectors were only ALLOWED a certain exercises ordinary jurisdiction without any special Commission, authority, which was delegated to them by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but which they have now assumed as a right." The rector, or his surrogates, held a court once a year at Easter, or thereabouts, in which he granted probates of wills, and letters of administration to estates, &c. Besides the foregoing, I also extract the following from the same book :

"Rawlinson, in his English topography, states that a seal belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court of Clyffe Parish, had been found upon Blackheath not long before the publication of his book, and follows-S. OFFICIELIT + JURISDICTIONIS DE LIBRA' PO'CH DE CLYFF that the words of the inscription, in old black letter, seemed to be as The impression of seal is a man's hand issuing out of a gown sleeve, and holding a long staff with a cross fixed upon it." Should any of your readers be able to furnish me with further information on this subject, it will oblige. WALSINGHAM,

THE SWORD OF THE BLACK PRINCE.-The sword of

Edward the Black Prince was stolen from his tomb in Canterbury Cathedral by Oliver Cromwell, and afterwards found its way to Armathwaite Castle, in Cumberland. Hutchinson, in his "History of Cumberland," says that it was removed from Armathwaite to the museum at Hull. The weapon is rather short, with a curved one-edged blade, upon which is the inscription, “Edwardus Prins Angliæ," and may possibly have been deposited in Wallis's Museum, in Mytongate. After the sale of that collection I can only suppose it was acquired by some purchaser. Should this meet the eye of its present owner, it would be esteemed a favour if he would communicate with me. Royal Institution, Hull. THOS. WALTON.

SIDE-SADDLES.-It may be worth recording in the pages of the Antiquary that peaked high-toed shoes, fastened to the knees with silver chains, were in fashion about the middle of the reign of Richard II., and soon after side-saddles were used and long gowns worn, which were introduced by the Queen, a Bohemian Princess. Before that time the English women rode astride like men.

TURNSPIT.

ANGLO-SAXON ARCHITECTURE. Sir C. Anderson, Bart., in his Eight Weeks' Journal in Norway," says, "It is probable that buildings attributed to the Saxons, on the eastern side of England, are the works of the Scandinavians whilst they had rule, and the cities of York and Lincoln, and the towns of Nottingham, Leicester, Stamford, and Derby, were Danish burghs." There is more truth in this statement than many persons suppose. The late J. M. Kemble, Esq., stated emphatically that the alleged Saxon invasion is void of historic truth in every detail, while Mr. John Henry Parker, in his " Glossary of Architecture, seems to throw grave doubts on the so-called architecture of the Anglo-Saxon period.

S. B.

PLINY ON THE BALLOT.-In the Antiquary for July, 1871, there is an article entitled "Cicero on the Ballot." I now draw attention to Pliny's notion on the ballot, mentioned in the 20th letter, of the 3rd book:

"It must be owned the method by open votes had intrc. duced into the Senate more riot and disorder than is ever seen in the assemblies of the people. We were obliged to have recourse to the way of balloting as the most probable remedy for the evil. The method being new, and immediately put in practice, it answered the present purpose very well; but I am afraid in process of time it will introduce new inconveniences, as this manner of balloting seems to