The next document is of much earlier date; not later than the reign of John. The age of it, and the distinguished parties to it, entitle it to notice.

"Ita convenit inter dominum Henricum filium Comitis ex parte una et Dominum Willielmum de Morlegh ex alterâ, ita quod predictus Henricus concessit predicto Willielmo quod bunde apud Wadewill facte sint immutabiles in perpetuum. Et concessit pro se et heredibus suis et assignatis quod predictus Willielmus et heredes sui, seu assignati, facient duas sectas tantum ad hundredum suum de Stanbur' vel solvent xii denarios ad festum Sancti Michaelis pro omnibus sectis et introitibus dicti hundredi. Pro quâ quidem concessione predictus Willielmus dedit predicto Henrico centum solidos sterlingorum. In cujus rei testimonium hiis scriptis bipartitis sigilla sua alternatim apposuerunt. Hiis testibus, dominis Henrico de Traci, Henrico de la Pomeray, Willielmo de Pralle, Stephano de Haccumb, Martino de Fisacre, et aliis."

The seal of Henricus fil' Comitis is attached, but it has nothing on it but the name.

Henry the son of Reginald Earl of Cornwall, commonly called Henry fitz Count, received from King John a grant of the manor of Dupeford, now Diptford, with the hundred of Stanborough appurtenant to it. Morlegh or Morley is a manor within the hundred, of which the lord appears to have owed suit to the hundred.

The object of the above deed was to settle certain boundaries between the parties, and to limit the attendancy of William de Morlegh to two suits only at the court of the hundred, in consideration of a sum of money paid to the lord of Diptford; and also to excuse even those suits on payment of twelve pence annually at Michaelmas.

66

This annual payment so made in lieu of personal attendance at a leet, or similar court, being fixed and certain in amount and not an arbitrary fine or amercement, was usually called a "certum letæ or cert-money; as to the nature and origin of which payment the text-books and legal authorities offer very unsatisfactory explanations. It is usually supposed to be a sort of acknowledgment to the lord for the original expense and trouble of procuring for his tenants the benefit of a local jurisdiction in lieu. of resorting to the King's courts (6 Coke Rep. 77. b.) I believe that such jurisdictions were generally sought for benefit of the lord alone, to whom they were very profitable; and that in every instance in which the origin of cert-money can be actually ascertained, it will be found to be a pecuniary composition for personal attendance, or some other duty which it was burdensome for the tenant to perform in specie. Sometimes a whole township or district was excused by a like payment, which was then called а "Common Fine."

E. SMIRKE.

3 K

VOL. VIII.

Proceedings at the Meetings of the Archaeological Institute.

NOVEMBER 7, 1851.

EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq., F.R.S., Treasurer, in the Chair.

THE list of members elected since the last meeting of the Institute in London, having been read, and that of presents to the library and collections of the Society, the Chairman took occasion, in opening the proceedings of another session, to congratulate the Society upon the success which had attended the Annual Meeting, held at Bristol, since they had last assembled in London,-the valuable communications there received, and the extension of friendly relations between the Institute and the kindred Societies and Archaeologists of the west. The 66 Salisbury Volume," of which the publication had been undertaken by Mr. Bell, had been announced as ready for delivery in the present week, and he (the Treasurer) anticipated that the Bristol Transactions, the sixth volume of the Annual Series, would prove not less acceptable to the Society at large, than any of the Memorials of their previous meetings; and that, through the present arrangements, its completion would be more promptly effected. In the absence of their Vice-President, the EARL OF ENNISKILLEN, he had been requested by that nobleman to lay before the meeting an account of recent discoveries, in Ireland, of certain insular strongholds of the class termed crannoges, to which the attention of the Society had been called by Mr. Evelyn Shirley, in a communication to the meeting at Winchester, subsequently printed in the Journal. These curious ancient dwellings are also described in his "Account of the Dominion of Farney," (p. 93.) Mr. Hawkins then read a letter addressed to Lord Enniskillen, by Mr. D. H. Kelly, describing a crannog lately examined during certain operations for the drainage of the county Roscommon.

This insulated site was found in the lake Clonfinlough, it was evidently artificial, being raised on piles of oak, many of which bear the marks of fire. There is a triple stockade of timber forming a circular enclosure of piles compacted by means of rough logs of oak fixed between them horizontally; within this fence, or rudely constructed coffer-dam, appears a layer of oak trees laid so as to meet in the centre, like the spokes of a wheel, and forming a perfect platform. On the western side were laid great logs fixed parallel to each other, and supporting others laid across them, so as to form a jetty, or landing-place: whilst outside the stockades there are piles driven without any regularity, and amongst these the greater part of the curious objects here collected had been found. On the central platform the little island appears to have been formed, measuring about 128 feet by 121 feet. A trench having been opened, there appeared about 7 inches under the surface, a regular well laid pavement of boulders, which was broken through with difficulty. Under this was a stratum of rich black earth, about 8 inches deep, and then a layer of clay and burnt

1 Vol. iii. p. 44.

earth of about the same depth. Beneath was found a second pavement of large flat stones, very closely laid upon a stratum of earth, marl, and burnt clay, mixed with some bones of pigs, deer, and fowls. On carrying the excavation still deeper, the timber platform was brought to view. Amongst the earth all around the stockade, large quantities of bones of horned cattle, deer, hogs, sheep, dogs, and fowls, have been found; amongst these are many antlers of the red deer, some horns of fallow deer, with a very few of the ancient elk. Some of the deers' horns had been cut by the saw. With these remains, for the most part, were found relics of metal and bone in great number, and of various periods, some of them, as bronze celts, spear-heads, pins, brooches, &c., appear to be of a remote age, whilst other objects may be of as recent date as 150 or 100 years ago, possibly, the production of some artisan who had established himself in the island, and was provided with a turning lathe, as appearances led Mr. Kelly to suppose. A bronze hatchet was found, and one of iron, having the steel edge riveted on in a very singular manner; a bronze cauldron, formed of plates curiously riveted together, needles, and a comb of bone, rings of stone, a pestle and mortar, &c. The pins and brooches were very numerous and varied in fashion, some being of extremely beautiful workmanship. Two canoes of oak, each formed of a single tree, were found near the island. Many other curious relics have been disinterred in the drainage of this district, and two other crannoges have been noticed, one at Clonfree Lake, just opposite to the site traditionally designated as the remains of a palace; the other is an island in Ardekillan Lake, opposite to a ruined church. Near this crannog had been found a canoe, formed of a single oak, 30 feet long, and 4 feet across near the bow; and in this were discovered a spear-head and a skull, with the frontal bone perforated, and twenty sword-cuts discernible upon it. Close to this island were discovered some fetters of extraordinary size, and a huge padlock by which they were fastened. These, with the cranium, had been secured for the Museum of the R. I. Academy.

Professor BUCKMAN communicated a report of the recent investigations commenced by him, in concert with Mr. Newmarch, amongst the exterior remains of Corinium. They have been chiefly promoted by a zealous local antiquary, Mr. Thomas Brown, who had hitherto liberally defrayed the chief expense occasioned by the excavations. The vestiges of the city walls, the structure of the amphitheatre, and other points of interest had been examined; whilst, in the course of some works for building purposes, a rich addition had been made to the collections of coins, ornaments, and implements of bronze, and fictilia. Permission having been obtained to explore during the ensuing winter, a site of more than ordinary promise, known as the Leauses, where many valuable Roman relics have been from time to time discovered, it is very desirable to carry out a systematic excavation; and the friendly aid of archaeologists is requested to augment the small subscription fund, available for the purpose, and give encouragement to an undertaking to which local resources are not fully adequate. Contributions may be sent to James Buckman, Esq., Cirencester. The Rev. F. WARRE, Vicar of Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset, communicated the following account of his recent examination of the remains, as supposed, of ancient habitations, within one of the hill-fortresses in that county;" Having obtained permission from Mr. Pigott, the owner of the property, I began on Thursday, Oct. 17, to make excavations in the area

of the British fortified town, situated on Worle Hill, near Weston super Mare. I commenced clearing out a square space where there was an appearance of walls, thinking it possible that it might be the entrance to a well; in this, however, I was disappointed, as it proved to be merely a rectangular excavation in the rock, about 16 feet from east to west, by about 13 from north to south, having a facing of dry masonry on the north, east, and west sides; that on the north about 2 feet 8 inches high, the other two sloping to the south with the natural declivity of the hill; the south side being merely the natural rock, without any facing of masonry, and not more than a few inches below the surface; the floor was composed of the solid limestone of the hill imperfectly levelled. For what purpose this chamber was formed I cannot conjecture; at first I thought it might be a tank for water, but the floor being of mountain limestone renders this improbable. On the following day I proceeded to clear out one of the Hut-circles, of which there are many within the ramparts. This proved to be a rude excavation in the solid rock, about six feet deep, and rather more in diameter. With the exception of a few fragments of very coarse pottery, and a little wood, having the appearance of charcoal, this pit contained nothing deserving of notice. On the following day I was absent, but the work was continued under the superintendence of Mr. Atkins and Dr. Tomkins, and on clearing a similar cavity, at about 5 feet 6 inches below the surface, was found a skeleton lying on the right side, close to the rock, with the head to the N. W.; this skeleton, though in a very decayed state, was nearly perfect, with the exception of the lower part of the legs, which had disappeared. On clearing the skull, three cuts entirely penetrating the bone, and evidently inflicted with some heavy and very sharp weapon, appeared upon it; the collar bone and the left arm, a little below the shoulder, also bore the marks of very severe wounds, apparently from the same cutting weapon. There was nothing else deserving of notice. On Monday, on opening another circle just by, at the depth of 3 feet 6 inches from the surface, they found the rock faced with dry masonry in a nearly circular form. From the top of this masonry to the solid rock at the bottom, was, on the E. side 23 inches, on the W. 27 inches, on the N. 24 inches, and on the S. 23 inches. The diameter of this chamber was in the broadest part, 4 feet 6 inches, and in the narrowest 3 feet 11 inches; the total depth of the excavation being about 5 feet 6 inches. About 4 inches below the top of the masonry were discovered the remains of two skeletons, lying nearly across each other, the head of one being nearly due south; that of the other skeleton west south-west. These were lying on their sides with the legs drawn up. About 6 inches lower a third skeleton was found, the head lying nearly due north. One of the skeletons, which was that of a very large man, bore marks of great violence, the skull being severely gashed by a sharp cutting instrument, and fractured by a large stone, which lay upon it; part of the collar bone was forced up into the arch of the lower jaw, and on the left thigh bone was the mark of a deep cut. Under these bones

was a quantity of dark mould, covering a thin layer of broken stones; then, thin plates of lias, which are not found on Worle Hill. Under these, immediately upon the rock, was a quantity of wheat mixed with a little barley, quite black, whether from the action of fire or through natural decay is not certain. With the skeletons were a few horses' teeth, and mixed with the grain were small bones, apparently of birds.

"During the remainder of the week several other circles were opened, in most of which were found small fragments of coarse pottery, bones of various animals, some of which appeared to have been burnt, pieces of blackened wood, but no masonry, or any relics of interest. The deposits in all were nearly the same ;-first, earth washed from the surface, then rubble and pieces of rock to the depth of about 5 feet; beneath this, black earth with fragments of wood, then broken stones, and lastly, the solid rock. On Saturday was found the skull of a pig, the back part of which, being close to the rock, seemed to show that it must have been separated from the carcase before it was placed in the hole; with it were many fragments of coarse pottery, some blackened wood, and a small piece of spar, which appears to have been rubbed down at one end, and might, perhaps, have been used as the head of a very small arrow. In the early part of the week the area contained within a large circle, 50 feet in diameter, which occupies nearly the centre of the place, was searched, but no cavities or deposits were discovered, the solid rock being found a few inches below the surface. Near the centre of this circle were found many fragments of pottery, thinner and of rather a finer texture than that found elsewhere.

"On Monday, October 27th, we found some more fragments of coarse pottery, bones of various animals, and a piece of spar, similar to that before-mentioned. On Tuesday, at about 5 feet from the surface, we found the jaw of a pig and a few bones; and a little below these lay a human under jaw, the atlas vertebra, the bones of one arm and hand, and those of the right foot in a very perfect state. This hole was much wider than most of the others, and those bones only were preserved, which had fallen on the dryest spots. Enough, however, remained to show that the skeleton was lying on its face, and about 8 or 9 inches below the jaw lay an iron spike, about 4 inches long, which appears to have been the head of a dart or javelin with which the man might have been killed, and have fallen forward into the excavation. Under the skeleton was the usual deposit of black mould and pieces of stick, such as might have been used in the construction of a wattled roof: under this was a large quantity of wheat and barley, which seemed to have rested upon a flat board, the different kinds of grain having been kept separate from each other by thin pieces of wood placed between them. Among this grain was found what I at first supposed to be a piece of plaited straw, but on closer inspection, it appeared to be part of a sedge mat, or basket, in which the corn might have been kept. The investigation of this curious store was not completed till Thursday; on that day another excavation was opened, in one corner of which was a ledge of rock which might have served as a seat. On the left side of this were the fragments of a large earthen vessel, and on the right a small store of grain. Near the bottom of the hole was found part of a very small ring, apparently of bronze; and in the corner quite on the floor, seemingly put away with care, two rings of iron about an inch in thickness, and about the same in diameter. On Friday nothing was discovered, and on Saturday, in the last cavity which has been searched, we found many bones of animals, a considerable quantity of broken pottery, and just above the floor a piece of iron about 8 inches in length. This, though quite rusted through, appears to be the head of a large spear. Besides these remains, we have found a great number of pebbles, all nearly of the same size, which, as the hill is 300 feet above the sea,