extensive examinations, which will be done so soon as the small requisite fund we are collecting for the purpose shall have been sufficiently augmented, to enable us to carry out these interesting researches with effect." We hope on a future occasion to give representations of some other varied relics of antiquity lately brought to light at Cirencester, through Professor Buckman's well directed researches. MR. GREVILLE J. CHESTER Communicated the discovery of several curious bronze relics, of the Roman period, some of which were exhibited to the meeting. They were recently found at Sutton Courtney, in Berkshire, near Abingdon, and consist of a bronze strigil, a small bronze bell, and fragments of bronze chain, composed of links of various sizes. This part of the county of Berkshire has produced a remarkable variety of ancient remains at different periods, and many of these relics have been collected by Mr. Jesse King, of Appleford, who kindly contributed a large series of objects of antiquity, British and Roman, exhibited in the museum formed during the meeting of the Institute at Oxford. The strigil is formed of very thin metal, coated with a patina of fine colour, but unfortunately the extremity of the hollow part of this implement has been broken off, the metal being excessively fragile, and it is impossible to say positively what might have been its form in its complete state. It is of very good workmanship, and some incised ornaments, designed with elegance, appear upon the handle, although much encrusted with arugo. There are several examples of the form of the strigil in the British Museum, but it does not appear to have been frequently found in our country with Roman remains. This may indeed be mentioned as a singular circumstance, since so many discoveries of Roman baths and sudatories have been made in various parts of England. Battely, in describing one found at Reculver, in Kent, of which a representation may be seen in his "Antiquitates Rutupinæ," p. 115, speaks of it as the only one discovered, to his knowledge, in Britain. A pair of bronze strigils formed part of the remarkable collection of objects of bronze, glass and pottery, one of the most interesting discoveries of Roman relics ever made in our country, namely, the sepulchral deposit brought to light in 1835 by the late Mr. Gage Rokewode, in one of the Bartlow Hills, Cambridgeshire. It is feared that these strigils perished in the conflagration of Lord Maynard's house in Essex they were found deposited with a frame of a folding chair, of iron, probably a seat destined for use in the bath, and a little vessel of earthenware, or unguentary. These two strigils, of which representations are given in Mr. Rokewode's Memoir in the "Archæologia," vol. xxvi., were precisely similar, in size and form; and it might be conjectured from this that strigils were used, like brushes for the bath, in pairs; the handles were formed, as those of some continental specimens, with a very narrow opening, too contracted for the fingers to be passed through it, but as if intended to receive a band, the use of which, Mr. Rokewode observes, might be to suspend the strigil to the wrist, when not actually in use. It is seen thus suspended on one of the Canino vases. The strigil exhibited to the Society by Mr. Chester is so much damaged that it is not possible to assert that the ligula, or hollowed part, was recurved, usually its form; it pro 6 The fragment, as now seen, measures in length, about 6 in. 7 This strigil may now be seen in the Library, at Trinity College, Cambridge, with a few relics from Reculver. bably was so, as appears by comparison with one formerly preserved at the Library of St. Genevieve, at Paris. With the strigil were found, as already stated, several fragments of bronze chain, formed of links of various sizes, and to the smallest are appended little pellets, forming a sort of tassel. It is to be regretted that these remains are in so fragmentary a state; enough remains to show that they composed one of those scourges, called plumbatæ tribulatæ, or mammillatæ, not often found in England. There is, however, in the Hon. Richard Neville's museum, one found at Chesterford, with Roman coins. A representation of it was given in the Journal in 1849. Another is figured in the "Archæologia," but it is not described as found in this country. These cruel scourges were used for the punishment of slaves, and by the Theodosian Code it was forbidden to punish a free-born person with the plumbata. They were used in gladiatoral conflicts, in the worship of Cybele, and in the torture of Christian martyrs: sometimes small bones were attached to the chains, or dentated rings of bronze, to make the punishment more severe. In the fragments exhibited, found in Berkshire, it may be observed that the edges of the rings are sharp, and they are combined in pairs, giving greater flexibility, and rendering the lash more severe. It may deserve remark, that in a bas-relief published by Muratori, Cybele is seen striking a kind of drum or tambourine with a scourge of this kind." With these curious relics from Sutton, Mr. Chester exhibited two other ancient objects of bronze found in Norfolk, and laid before the Society by permission of Mr. Plowright, of Swaffham. One of these is a celt, deserving notice as being ornamented with engraved lines; examples of celts thus ornamented have been of rather uncommon occurrence in England until lately, although frequently found in Ireland; some very curious engraved celts have, however, been brought before the Institute by Mr. Brackstone and Mr. Dunoyer, found in Yorkshire and other parts of the North of England. Mr. Plowright sent also a bronze hook, or falx, found in Norfolk. Implements of this kind are not uncommon in Ireland: they have sometimes been called reaping-hooks, although wholly unsuited for such a purpose. By other antiquaries it has been conjectured that they are the golden sickles with which the Druids, as supposed, used to cut mistletoe. Whatever may have been their use, it is worth remark that the active research of later years has brought to light in England many of the types of ancient remains, heretofore regarded as exclusively Irish. This is the second bronze falx communicated to the Institute within the last few months the first was found in Cambridgeshire, and was exhibited by the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. It was unique in the peculiarity of being edged on one side, the inner side only-that now shown resembled the ordinary form of the Irish implement of this description, and is sharpened on both edges. These hooked instruments do not appear to be known to the antiquaries of Northern Europe, nor are they to be found, as far as we are aware, in the remarkable museum at Copenhagen. M. PULSKI remarked that he had seen similar chains, but of larger size, 8 Du Molinet, Cabinet de la Bibl. de S. Geneviève, p. 26. There is a strigil in the Museum of the Corporation of London, found on the site of the Royal Exchange. 9 See a specimen of the Plumbata, Cab. de S. Genev., p. 4, with pendants resem- 2 Archaeol. Journ., vol. vii. p, 302. with pendant tags, found in Hungary, and that they had usually been considered by archaeologists, in that part of Europe, as appendages of horsefurniture. MR. FREDERICK MANNING sent a notice of an ancient vessel of large size, discovered in May, 1848, deeply imbedded in the mud at Southampton, From peculiarities of construction, and other circumstances, it was affirmed by persons who examined the remains, that this vessel was of very ancient build, and the conjecture obtained credence, that it possibly had been a Roman galley. The station of Clausentum was not far distant; some antiquaries, indeed, have placed the site at Southampton. MR. WILLIAM F. VERNON, of Hilton Park, Staffordshire, gave the following particulars relating to a curious bronze image, connected with the ancient manorial customs of his paternal property at that place, and still there preserved. This singular figure, which has been regarded by some antiquaries as an image of the German deity, Busterichus, was exhibited, "The earliest mention that I can find of Jack of Hilton, in the deeds at Hilton, is in a bill, entitled-A Bill in the Court of Wards-'Petition to the Rt Honble Lord Burghleigh, Lord highe Tresorer of England, Mr of her M. highness' court of Ward and Lyveries.-Gilbert Wakering, versus Townshend & others.' Sir Gilbert Wakering, it should be observed, was appointed by the Queen guardian of Margaret Vernon, 39 Eliz., 1596-7. Lord Burleigh died 1598. The age of this document may thus be very nearly ascertained. "This bill, after many complaints against the defendant, goes on to say— "And whereas there hath beene belonginge to the cheafe capital mesuage of the manner of Hilton, aforesaid, being parcell of the warde's inheritance, tyme whereoff the memorie of man is not to the contrarie, an ancient statue, image, instrumente, or heir loome of brasse, of the fashion, proportion, and likeness of a boy, comonly called Jack of Hylton, which evrie yeare in the Cristmas tyme was accustomed to be placed in the hall of the manor house at Hilton aforesaid, where & when the tenante of the same mannor did and used to doe certayne servyces for the better retayninge of the same & their tenures in memorie; and the same statue, image, instrument, or heir loome, the said Henrie Vernon at the tyme of his diceace (21 June, 1592) did leave in the saide capitall mesuage of Hilton, meaning & intending that the same should come & be unto his heirs and to the lawful owners of the said manner house of Hilton, yet so it is that the said Henrie Townshend and th'other parties aforesaid, or some of them, or some other person by their or some one of their meanes, direction, or privitie, hath lately embezeled and deforced, and keepeth and detayneth the same statue, image, instrumente or heire loome, in a place farre distante from the said mannor of Hilton, and doe withholde the same from her Majties said warde, to the discontinuance of the services of the tenante of the said mannor of Hilton, and to the danger of the loss & utter extinguishment of the same services, contrarie to the meaning of the said Henrie Vernon, and against right, &c.' "I also find another petition in the Court of Wards from John Vernon, the ward's uncle, against Henry Townshend, dated 1598, and directed To the right honble Sr Robert Cyrell Deverax, of the most noble order of the Garter, knight, Earl of Essex & Ewe, and Mr of her Majties Court of Warde & Lyveries.' "In most humble manner sheweth, &c., &c., inter alia, that whereas there hath beene belonginge to the said mannor of Hilton, tyme whereof the memorie of man is not to the contrarie, an ancient statue, image, instrument or heir loome, of brass, in proportion and lykness of a boy, comonly called Jack of Hylton, which comonly evrie yeare in the Christmas tyme was placed in the hall of the mannor house of Hilton, where the tenante that did holde of the said mannor did repaire and doe certain service for better contineuinge in memorie theire tenure & service belonging to the said mannor of Hilton, this statue & image Mr. Townshend since his intermarriage hath ymbezelled or deforced, to the great hindrance of the services appertaininge to the said mannor in tyme to come, whereby it seemeth the said Walter Heveningham & Henrie Townshend do all that in them is to spoyle, deface, & prejudice the said mannor of Hilton, &c., and your said orator humbly desireth, that it would please your honor to give order, that the said Henrie Townshend and Walter Heveningham be compelled to bringe and restore to the said mannor house of Hilton, the said statue, or image of brass, to be employed and used as heretofore, accordinge to the tenure of such tenants as hold of the said mannor, 66 &c.' It thus appears, that the custody of Margaret Vernon was granted to Sir Henry Townshend, 41 Eliz., 1598-9. Sir Henry Townshend had married the ward's mother, the widow of Henry Vernon, in 1594. "The next account I find of Jack of Hilton, or rather of the service of the Goose, is from a Record in the Tower of London, headed a Bill of Reviver, Vernon & Uxor, versus Dame Eliz. Wakering, Jan. 1616. To the Rt Honble Thomas Lord Ellesmere, &c.' From this I will give the following extract : "Sir Gilbert Wakering having purchased divers messuages, lands, and tenements, lying within the aforsaid mannor of Essington, in the said county of Stafford, certain of which said messuages, lands, and tenements, within the said mannor of Essington, were held of your said orator, as of the said manor of Essington, by fealty suit of court, and two shillings and seven pence yearlie rent, and by drivinge a goose, with three heads of garlicke about her neck, in the tyme of Christmas everie year round about the fyer in the hall of the mannor house of Hilton aforesaid, &c., &c.' "We now come to the only detailed account of Jack of Hilton and the service of the Goose, which is to be found in Plot's History of Staffordshire, published in 1680, page 433. He there says, “There are many old customs in use within memorie, of whose originals I could find no tolerable account, such as the service due from the Lord of Essington to the Lord of Hilton, about a mile distant, viz., that the lord of the mannor of Essington, now one St. John, Esq., late Sir Gilbert Wakering, shall bring a goose every New Year's day, and drive it round the fire in the hall at Hilton, at least 3 times (which he is bound to do as mean lord), whilst Jack of Hilton is blowing the fire. Now Jack of Hilton is a little hollow image of brass, of about 12 inches high,3 kneeling upon his left knee, and holding his right hand upon his head, and his left upon his pego or his veretrum erected, having a little hole in the place of a mouth about the bigness of a great pin's head, and another in the back about of an inch diameter, at which last hole it is filled with water, it holding about 4 pints and a quarter, which when set to a strong fire evaporates after the same manner as an æolipile, and vents itself at the smaller hole 3 The weight of this figure is 8 lb. 14 oz. at the mouth in a constant blast, blowing the fire so strongly that it is very audible, and makes a sensible impression in that part of the fire where the blast lights, so I found by experience, May 26, 1680. After the Lord of Essington or his deputy or bailiff has driven the goose round the fire at least 3 times, whilst the image blows it, he carries it into the kitchen of Hilton hall, and delivers it to the cook, who having dressed it, the Lord of Essington, or his bailiff, by way of further service, brings it to the table of the Lord paramount of Hilton and Essington, and receives a dish of meat from the said Lord of Hilton's table for his own mess. Which service was performed, about 50 years since (1630), by James Wilkinson, the bayliff of Sir Gilbert Wakering.-the Lady Townshend being lady of the manor of Hilton, Thos. a Stokes & John a Stokes, brothers, both living, having been present. 66 4 From 1635 (being the year of the death of Lady Townshend), I find by the court rolls at Hilton that this service was commuted for 8d. annually; and this 8d. was regularly paid till 1704, when the whole of the land became the property of H. Vernon, Esq., of Hilton. The little image is now in possession of the lord of the manors of Hilton and Essington. "A bronze æolipile, almost precisely similar, found near Basingstoke about 1790, is now in the museum of the Society of Antiquaries. A representation is given of it in the Archaeologia,' vol. xiii., pl. 27. A metal figure, almost precisely similar in fashion, was formerly preserved in a fortress of the Counts of Schwartzenberg, called Sondershausen, and is cited by Henninius, in his Notes on the Epistles of Tollius, as representing Busterichus. The resemblance is striking, the right hand is raised to the head, the right knee on the ground, the left hand resting on the thigh. This image had been kept at the ancient castle of Rottembourg. A more accurate representation is given by Wagener ('Handbuch der Alterthümer,' fig. 1138, text, p. 624). He describes it as the deity 'Pûstrich,' and as found at Kelbra; it is actually deposited in the Cabinet of Antiquities at Sondershausen in Upper Saxony. Whitaker, Mr. Vernon remarked, had considered that Jack of Hilton might represent the god Poust, the Priapus of the ancient Germans. M. PULSKI stated, that there was a similar idol known amongst the Sclavonic tribes. The word "püst" signified puffing, or making a blowing noise with the mouth, a circumstance deserving consideration in connexion with the functions of Jack of Hilton." MR. NESBITT gave an account of a magnificent Sepulchral Brass, hitherto undescribed, existing in the cathedral of Cracow. It is the memorial of Frederic, son of Casimir, King of Poland, and Bishop of Cracow, 1488— 1503. An admirable rubbing of this grand example of early engraving was exhibited. Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited. By M. PULSKI.-A selection of drawings representing antique bronzes, of the classical period, preserved in the museum of his relative, M. Fejervàry, in Hungary, which had already supplied so many interesting subjects of various periods, produced at previous meetings of the Institute. 4 This account is cited in Blount's Jocular Tenures, p. 449. See also Montf. Antiq. Expl. t. ii. p. 410, pt. 184. 6 Compare Pausten, busten, sufflare, inflare buccas, paust, turgidus. Suecis, pust, follis. Wachter. |