Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/382

 358 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. singular stone, ajiparently a Saxon cofRri-lid. It is almost covered with soil and grass, but it may easily be seen, by digging at the side, that it is not more than 3 ^ or 4 inches thick. The sides are also richly sculptured with knotwork, but too mucli mutilated and grass-grown to obtain a correct copy. The shape is that of a coffin-lid, and I entertain no doubt but that it was one. It measures in the broadest part 1 foot, at the head about 10 in., at the foot 8 in., and is 3 ft. 10 in. long." P.:;RI0D of GOTHIC ART. Amongst the curious relics of antiquity discovered in Warwickshire, and connected with the valuable collections relating to the history of that county, in the possession of William Staunton, Esq., of Longbridge, a beautiful gold signet-ring is preserved, of which, by his kindness, we are enabled to offer a representation. It Avas found, about the year 1825, in the ruins of Keuilworth castle, by a person named Falkner, who was in the constant habit of searching amongst the rubbish with the exjDectation of making some valuable discovery. Its weight is 4 dwt, 10 gr. The im- press is very singular ; under a crown appear the numerals 87, of the forms usually designated as Arabic, of which no example has been noticed in this country, except in MSS. prior to the fifteenth century^. Above the crown are the letters g and f) ; lower down on one side is seen the letter a, and, on the other, m. Various interpretations of this remarkable device have been suggested : it has been conjectured that it might have reference to the coronation of Elizabeth, queen of Henry YII., solemnized at Westminster, A.D. 1487, or have been connected with the enterprise of Lambert Simnel, which occurred during that year, at the instigation of Margaret, duchess of Burgundy ^ Mr. Hawkins considered its age to be about the reign of Edward IV., the crown with fleur-de-lys ornaments, and the form of the m. being of similar character to those on his coins ; a similar type of crown may, however, be found in earlier times, as shewn by the great seals, and other authorities, as early even as the reign of Richard II. e The letters have been supposed to be the initials of a sentence, such as — Sancta virgo adji-iva me — (the second letter being read as a b), or, supposing the ring to be referred to the times of Henry VII., Sigillum, or secretum, Henrici, Anno (14)87. M''. The most probable explanation, however, appears to have been « Compare the two last figures of the date 1187, carved on wood, on an old lionse at Armingliall, near Norwich. f Henr}', in the summer of that year, after the discomfiture of Lambert Simnel's partizans, returned from the north by way of Leicester and Warwick, and set fortli from that town with Elizabeth* towards London, Oct. 27, 1487. Stow. ^' Compare the arms on the sepulchral brass of Archbishop Cranley, t. Hen.V., in New College chapel; he died, A.D. 1417. ^ The supposition that 87 may stand for 1487 may be admitted for want of any