Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/371

 SEPULCHRAL .MEMORIALS AT ETCHmGHAM, SUSSEX. 265 to show how their perusal might be rendered subservient to a nearer approach to a correct account of Caernarvon and the other royal castles in North Wales, than has hitherto appeared. Though the attempt to set forward new views, especially when they tend to deprive established ones of their influence and reality, may appear at first to be distasteful, and even abhorrent, to our long cherished predilections, as earnestly yearning after truth, we shall not hesitate to prefer the acquisition of that, to the maintenance of opinions whose only merit consists in their ingenuity, their speciousness, or association with early impressions. A reference to the various records that have been consulted will furnish others wdth additional means of pursuing this species of investiga- tion ; the facts will still remain the same, but others may more skilfully elicit inductions ; extricating from these for- bidding and faint memorials of the Middle Ages fresh infer- ences, and placing those, now for the first time brought out of obscurity, in a fuller and brighter light. As these uncor- rupt fountains of information are rendered more accessible to the literary public, we shall go on gathering increased knowledge of the history and habits of past ages ; accepted errors will gradually vanish, and men will cease to repose their confidence in narratives grounded on no producible evidence, but whose greatest value consists in the air of mystery and romance by which they are disguised, or in the magic colours of fancy that form their popular attraction. CHARLES HENRY HARTSHORN E. NOTICES OF SEPULCHRAL MEMORIALS AT ETCHINGHAM, SUSSEX, AND OF THE CHURCH AT THAT PLACE. The following observations relate to the series of monu- mental portraitures and memorials of a family, formerly of influence and distinction in the county of Sussex, whose history I have recently endeavoured to bring before the notice of antiquaries. The first is an inscription from the tomb of WilHam de Echyngham, son of Sir James do Echyngham, who died about midnight [entour my noet), 18 Jan. 1388, and not 1387, as has been stated. I took an accurate impression, and found VOL. VII. N N