Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/418

400 resemblance to that of Sir Robert de Vere, in Sudborough church, Northamptonshire.

".—An Altar has evidently been erected here. The elevated altar-step yet remains, and just before it lies an

".—It represents a cross, and at the intersection a heart. Irradiated above is an inscription, 'Hic jacet Rogerus Champernowne Armiger cujus anime propicietur Deus Amen.' The Champernownes became possessed of the manor of Beer Ferrers before the close of the fourteenth century. I have seen other, and hope to send for the inspection of the Society specimens of these engraved slabs, which, though somewhat rare in the eastern parts of England, do not appear to be uncommon in this western portion of our country; indeed the old Norman practice of inscribing round the edge of the flat gravestone is still practised here, and almost every church presents instances of it. There is another stone near the foregoing, apparently very ancient; the letters are cut in very deep relief, the words, 'Orate pro Will'mo Champernoun.' Royal arms very coarsely executed on four pennoucels; around are painted a rose, harp, portcullis, and fleur-de-lis.

" entirely modernized, and chancel-arch spoiled.

"In conclusion, I may state that the exterior of the church has a pretty appearance; its nave, side aisles, and the little chapels in the upper angles of the cross, together with its low tower surmounted by a kind of corbel-table, resembling machicolations, look well from every point of observation.

" Such is the church of Beer Ferrers, which Lysons states to have belonged in the reign of King Henry the Second to Henry de Ferrariis or Ferrors, ancestor of the numerous branches of the ancient family of Ferrors in Devonshire and Cornwall."

Mr. M. W. Boyle presented through the Rev. J. B. Deane a portfolio of prints and drawings, illustrative chiefly of places in London. It comprises, 1. Illustrations of Crosby Hall. 2. Occupiers of Crosby Hall. 3. Illustrations of St. Helen's Church and Priory. 4. Illustrations of Gresham College. 5. Illustrations of Leathersellers' Hall. 6. Miscellaneous Illustrations.

—The Secretary read letters from Archdeacons King and Burney, in reply to communications from the Committee. Archdeacon King writes, "Having upon the receipt of your former letter, cautioned the churchwardens of East Wickham against farther proceeding in the matter of the fresco-painting in the church, I was desirous of obtaining, as it was a new case, the opinion of the Bishop upon the subject. His Lordship has inspected the painting, and his opinion, with which mine agrees, is, that the fresco is not worth preserving."—Archdeacon Burney says, "I am very sorry to say that the paintings will not be saved. It is quite impossible, however, for me not to express myself very greatly indebted to the bishop of Rochester not only for his courtesy and prompt reply to the letter addressed to him by me from Canterbury, but for his having likewise visited the church himself, and stayed all proceedings, until I could accompany his Lordship, and inspect the paintings with him. They were in a much more decayed state, I confess, than I had expected, and any restoration would have amounted to almost an entirely new work, even if