Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/169

 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IXTELLIGENCK. 151 Mars gradiftis, enclosed by a rim of gold, inscribed with the letters ^ and MO. (?) The workmansliip of the ring" appears to be of the fourteenth century. Mr. AUinghain stated that it had been purchased by him from a person who had found it in an old pasture, ploughed up not long since, between the town of Reigate, and I.inkfield Street. The figure of Mars upon an antique intaglio was regarded during the middle ages as gifted with talismanic virtues, and it is mentioned both in the curious treatise " de sculpturis lapidum," and the early printed book, entitled Techel, which treats of the properties of precious stones and intaglios, called " pierres de Israel," given by Mr. Wright in his curious notice of medieval antiquarian excavations. It is affirmed that " la pierre de la pianette qui est appellee Mars, fait victoire et delivre des causes adverses et contraires"." A singular bronze matrix of the thirteenth century, was exhibited by Mr. Joseph Burtt, of the chapter house, Westminster. It is the personal seal of an ecclesiastic ; the matrix is formed like a heater-shaped shield, inscribed thus around the verge, — ^ s'alexandri de asteleya cl'ici. In the field of the scutcheon appear the Virgin and infant Saviour, with an ecclesiastic kneeling, and the words ave maria. Mr. C. J. Palmer, local secretary for Yarmouth, has communicated a notice of the discovery of a piscina, sedilia, and aumbries, in the soulh aisle of the chancel of St. Nicholas' church, Great Yarmouth, which is now in course of restoration, under the superintendence of Mr. Hakewill. These remains had been partially bricked up, and covered w'ith repeated and very thick coats of whitewash. Mr. Palmer observes that " the Rev. Henry Mackenzie, minister of the parish, who takes great interest in the restoration of this noble church, caused the brick-work to be removed, when a painting under the fourth arch was discovered. By carefully removing the whitewash with a penknife, all the stone-work of the sedilia wis found to be coloured, and it is probable that other paintings remain on these walls, but it is difficult to remove the whitewash without injuring them." These remains are earlj- De- corated. Mr. Palmer states also, that on removing " the alderman's gallery," in the south aisle of the same church, the remains of a tomb, with a piscina on both sides, were discovered. It is recessed beneath an ogee arch, for- merly richly crocketed, the mouldings still bearing traces of gilding and colour. From the fact that a shield of arms, of which all that can be made out is that it is a bend over a quartered coat, occurs within a quatrefoil in the apex of the arch, it has been conjectured that this may be the tomb of Sir Jolin Fastolfe, of Caister, knight, who Avas a great benefactor to the church, and is known to have been interred within it. Mr. Palmer pro- mises further notices of the ancient details of this interesting edifice. The Viscount Downe has presented to the collection of the Institute rub- bings of two brasses in Great Bookham church, Surrey ; his lordship com- nuniicated at the same time the following notes relative to that edifice. " Three brasses remain, two in the south aisle, one under a pew, to Robert " Avclia'ologia, vol. xxx. j)]). lol, -i-H'.