Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/445

Rh iwpn omne nomcn.* Also casts from a beautiful series of statuettes around the tomb attributed to Sir Thomas Arderne, date about 1400, at Elford Church, Staffordshire, recently restored by Mr. Richardson.''

By Mr. Niblett, of Haresfield Court.— Tracing from the singidar iron scutcheon-plate, on the south door of the nave, at Reiidcombe Church, Gloucestershire (see woodcut). The upper plate, forming a chief, hcraldically described, and laid upon the scutcheon-shaped plate, is per- forated with certain characters, the last three being obviously the Arabic numerals 417. The first three have not been ex- plained. If the date 1417 be implied, as seems probable, this curious plate supplies a very early example of the use of Arabic numerals in any work connected with building.' In MSS. they were common after 1320, and in Astronomical Tracts as early as 1290. It is hoped that some of our readers may suggest the interpretation of these characters. By Sir William Latvson, Bart. — Bronze matrix, found, about 1837, near Eichmond, Yorkshire,— >J<S1G1LLVM. DOMINI • ADAM • BRTEL- A scutcheon of arms, very boldly engraved. — Lozengy, a barrulet. The form of the seal is circidar, diameter 2 in. jj. The name Bretel occurs, in early times, in Normandy,' and several families of the name existed in France, It is found also in ancient records in our own country, although not ascertained to have been in any manner connected with Yorkshire.^ No person named Adam Bretel is on record, and there is no instance known of that Christian name being considered indeclinable, the medieval genitive being invariably ylde. The arms are unknown, and wholly dissimilar to any bearing assigned to the name of Bretel. From these circumstances, and the erroneous omission of a letter, (the legend reading — BlITEL,) the authenticity of this matrix had been somewhat questioned. ^ See an engraving of this font in tlic Illus- trations, published hy Van Voorst. '' Mr. E. Richardson purposes to publish a inonogra|)h of the interesting tombs at Elford. Subscribers are requested to send their n.amcs to him, at 7, Melbury Terrace, Ilarewood Square. 'i The earliest on record, as we believe, is at Heathfield, Sussex, and the discovery is due to Mr. Lower, of Lewes. This date is 1445. Sec Journal Archacol. Assoc, vol. ii., p. 157. garding value of rents in Damfront, in Nor- mandy, t. Ric. 1 ; Stapleton's Nornuin Roll., vol. ii., p. Ix. 8 Robert, de Bretel occurs Rot. lib., 12 John, in a list of knights then in Dublin. Agatha Bretel, in Flinthani, Test, dc Nevill.
 * Robertus Bretel, Juror, in an Inquis. re-