Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/307

Rh contrivances suited for warfare with the sling and the cross-bow, as well as many other curious details, are to be studied in the delineations faithfully copied by Mr. Shaw. It is surprising, that in a country which makes its boast of the dominion of the seas, no antiquary should hitherto have taken up a subject of research so fraught with curious interest as the history of ancient shipping; we may, however, anticipate that ere long this deficiency in national archæology will be supplied from the pen of Sir Samuel Meyrick, by whose assiduous research another most obscure and intricate subject has already been elucidated, and whose valuable collection at Goodrich Court, laid open with the utmost liberality to the student and the curious, affords the most instructive chronological series of armour and arms which exists in Europe.

The admirer of the quaint and elaborate works of the middle-age goldsmiths and enamellers will find in Mr. Shaw's attractive plates many objects of more than ordinary interest. One of the most elegant is the gold coronation spoon, which is used for receiving the sacred oil from the ampulla, at the anointing of the sovereign; it is probable that this is the sole relic of the ancient regalia which has been preserved to the present time. Its date is about the twelfth century. A rich display of chalices, crosses, crosiers, reliquaries, and other sacred ornaments, is given, as also of elegant works destined for ordinary or personal use, jewellery, arms, the beautiful parcel-gilt covered cups, which served to garnish the court cupboard of the sixteenth century, and amongst them that unique specimen of German niello, which is now preserved in the print-room at the British Museum. The elegant little reliquary, of which a representation is here offered to our readers, is a work of the fifteenth century; the original exists at Paris.

It would not be possible to advert in detail to all the artistic processes, of which specimens are here brought together. Painted glass, illuminated MSS., tapestry and embroideries, decorative pavements, the sepulchral brass and the incised slab, as well as works of a higher class of art, such as the remarkable portraits of Richard II., at Wilton, Margaret, queen of Scotland, at Hampton Court, and Francis I., attributed to the pencil of Janet, all are presented to view in rich variety. The portrait of King Richard may be regarded as the most curious painting in the earl of Pembroke's