Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/209

Rh, a large society in a country of marsh and reed such as Zeeland is. The term 'baleeders' nobody here can understand. Perhaps it is an error for becleeder, signifying master or director: the name Paeschme appears also to be erroneous: it cannot be a Dutch name, and ought possibly to be read Paerschen, a family known in different provinces of Holland."

A considerable number of cancelled, or "palimpsest" memorials existing in England, have been already described by writers on sepulchral antiquities. Mr. Boutell affirms that in several instances Flemish inscriptions appear upon them: an example, as we believe, hitherto unnoticed, was to be seen in the church of Isleworth, Middlesex, on a detached brass, which a few years since was kept in the vestry. We shall be indebted to any correspondent who may favour us with further information on the subject. It does not appear that any positive information has been adduced to shew the place of manufacture or export whence the large quantities of latten, or brass plate of fine hard quality, used in England, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, were derived. The only distinct evidence hitherto cited is a passage in the contract for the tomb of Richard Beauchamp, dated 1454, in which it is covenanted to provide a large plate, "to be made of the finest and thickest Cullen plate," to cover the top of the altar-tomb. It is certain that Cologne was an emporium whence the merchants of England received a great variety of wares. In the "copye of specery," a table of rates which may be assigned to the close of the fifteenth century, given with Arnold's Chronicle of the Customs of London, we find amongst various merchandise of Flanders the following wares,—"Latyn basyns at 28s. Latyn plate, .... Dowbill plate, 16s. white plate, at 12s. sengyll plate, at 7s. 6d."

Mr. Richard C. Hussey, local secretaiy of the Institute at Birmingham, has communicated, by the kind permission of Lady Harriet Moore, a curious little implement formed of brass, found, as it was stated, in digging the

foundations of a cottage, at Frittenden in Kent. It measures 4 in. and a quarter in length, and the form is fully shewn by the annexed representation. It appears to be a pointel, greffe or stylus, of medieval times, and constructed with a small flat button at one end for the purpose of obliterating any false marks: whilst the pointed extremity is formed with four sharp sides, which might serve to scrape and smooth the surface of the wax. The ivory tablets formed to receive the wax are of frequent occurrence in collections of medieval curiosities; they are frequently sculptured with