Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/200

170 cast of this cross, which has an additional value as being a dated example, will be placed in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham.

Mr. expressed his opinion of the very great value of these sculptured monuments as the only existing materials of their class for the History of early art. Mr. O'Neill would render good service to the archaeologist by collecting and publishing accurate representations of the Irish crosses, and Mr. Westwood could not urge too strongly the necessity of the most conscientious fidelity in reproducing the details of sculpture, which, in their present weather-worn condition, frequently demand the closest attention and study in order to comprehend the character and motives of their ornamentation.

Mr. remarked that many early sculptures exist in the northern counties, not less deserving of attention than those in Ireland. He had in his possession some valuable fragments of a sculptured cross discovered in Yorkshire, which he had brought before the Institute at their Meeting in York.

Mr. gave the following description of several fine Sepulchral Brasses in Saxony, Prussia, and Poland, hitherto wholly unknown in England, of which he exhibited rubbings.

In the Cathedral of Erfurt there exists a brass commemorating Johan von Heringen, a canon of that church. The upper part of the figure is engraved upon a plate of brass measuring 2 ft. 4 by 1 ft. 11, while the lower is sculptured in low relief in the slab of stone into which the brass is inserted. A sort of canopy is formed over the head by the interlacing of branchwork, an arrangement very frequent in late German architecture. A curtain hanging from a rod fills up the background.

The head of the effigy is covered by a cap, and the shoulders by the furred cape or aumuse usually worn by canons; a chalice is held in both hands. The stone portion of the figure is extremely worn; but it would seem that the vestments represented are those composing the usual sacramental dress. The effigy is surrounded by broad fillets of brass bearing the following inscription in a very bold black letter:—"Anno dni M.CCCCC. quīto die XXVIII. mensis septēbris decessit Veñabilis et Egregius vir Johannes de heringen In decrets licenciatus huj ecclie Cātor et canonicus Cuius aīa requiescat In pace Amen." At the angles of the inscription are escutcheons bearing the following arms:—

1. A lion rampant contourné, or counter-rampant.

2. Two sceptres, with fleur-de-lis heads in saltire.

3. A bend sinister counter-compony.

4. Per pale, three charges, resembling hoe-irons, with rounded edges, two and one.

Two other brasses from which the rubbings exhibited by Mr. Nesbitt were made are in the choir of the Cathedral of Breslau, where they lie near the high altar.

The earlier of the two commemorates Peter the second Bishop of Breslau of that name, called of Nowagk from the place of his birth, a village in Silesia, not far from Neisse. His origin was humble, but having entered the Church, he gradually rose until be became Præpositus, or (Provost) Dean of the Cathedral of Breslau. On the vacancy of that see in 1447, ho was elected bishop by the unanimous vote of the canons, and their choice was approved of and confirmed by the Metropolitan Vincentius, Archbishop of Gnesen. The new Bishop is said to have owed his election