Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/79

Rh tural details is given, as also a representation of the early sculptured slab found during the restorations in 1848, and now preserved within the church. This slab has been noticed in this Journal, vol. vi., p. 186.

This curious dial, as is shown by the accompanying woodcut from Mr. Figg's drawing, indicates four divisions, each of three hours, and marked by crossed lines. A similar indication of four principal divisions, marked in the same manner, is seen on the Saxon dial over the south porch of Kirkdale Church, in the North Riding of Yorkshire; but in that instance the intervening spaces are divided by a single line instead of two, as at Bishopstone. The dial there is supposed to have been made between the years 1056 and 1065, and an inscription beneath records that it was wrought by Haward, and Brand the presbyter. The name upon the dial at Bishopstone church may possibly denote likewise the maker. It is probable that the principal divisions on both these early dials, marked by the crosses, indicated those five of the seven great divisions of the day whence the canonical hours are named, that a vertical dial on the south side of a church could show at any season of the year, namely,—prime (6 ), undern or tierce, mid-day or sext, none, and even (vespera), three hours intervening between each of these divisions of time into which the day was distributed according to ancient usage.

By Mr. .—A volume of fac-similes from illuminations in various Anglo-Saxon and Irish MSS., illustrating the progress of calligraphy and the peculiar types of ornamentation, as displayed in the minutely detailed drawings, which throw much light upon the age and classification of works in metal, sculptures, and other remains of an early period. The binding of this remarkable book is of wood elaborately carved and enriched with fac-similes of certain Saxon and Irish ornaments of metal.

By Mr. .—A cut-and-thrust two-edged rapier, of the time of Charles I., with a cross-guard at the hilt; and a small rapier, with three-edged poniard shaped blade. The guard of the last is of steel, embossed with figures of cavaliers, masks, and foliage; the gripe is covered with a matting of silver wire over gold thread. Date, t. Charles II.

Matrices and Impressions of Seals.—By Mr. .—Bulla of Pope Alexander IV., lately found amongst the pebbles on the beach at Brighton. He was elected in 1254 and died in 1261. (Engraved in Wailly's Eléments de Paléographie, vol. ii. p. 376.)

By the Hon. .—Brass matrix of the seal of Edmund, Prior of Bilsington, Kent, 1349, lately found at Clavering, Essex. Also a massive gold signet ring found at Easton, Essex; the impress is the initial E (of the "Lombardic" form) under a coronet, within delicately cusped tracery; the hoop is inscribed externally— This beautiful ring was found in ploughing, about 1850, and lately presented by Lady Maynard to Mr. Neville's dactylotheca, already rich in examples of rings found in Essex and Cambridgeshire. The sepulchral brass of Sir John Wylcotes (1410) at Great Tew, Oxfordshire, presents a device introduced twice in the canopies,—a hand holding a scroll inscribed The posy on Mr. Neville's ring appears to be the same as that inscribed on a gold ring belonging to Mr. Hopkinson, of Edgeworth— the