Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/413

 MEETINGS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 297 Edward III., hitherto unnoticed, and supposed to be the seal " E "of the list given by Professor Willis, in his dissertation on the " History of the Great Seals." (Archaeol. Journal, vol. ii., p. 37.) It was a seal used during that king's absence from the realm, and the Professor had sought in vain to discover any representation or impression of it. Two impressions were laid before the meeting by Mr. Gunner, which had been brought to light amongst the muniments of Winchester college, and were now exhibited by the kind permission of the Warden. The documents to which these inter- esting seals Avere appended, are pardons granted to certain persons, for acquiring land in Meonstoke, Hants, without royal licence. They are attested by Prince Lionel, Guardian of the realm during the absence of Edward, and dated Oct., 21 Edw. III. (a.d. 1.3i7). R. Boyd, Esq., M.D., of Wells, communicated, through F. H. Dickenson, Esq., the following notice of the tomb of Thomas de Beckington, Bishop of Wells, the faithful counsellor of Henry VI., and a great benefactor to the Cathedral church. It is singular that no remains of the vestments were discovered with the remains ; it is recorded that, at the consecration of the sepulchral chantry erected by that prelate during his lifetime, he wore the pontifical ornaments, in which he directed that his corpse should ultimately be interred."- " In the south aisle of the choir of Wells Cathedral is the tomb of Bishop Beckington, who died a.d. 1445. During the repairs, in March, 1850, the tomb was opened ; it was about five feet in depth, and about ten feet square, partly arched with the conglomerate stone of the neighbour- hood, and in very dry state. It contained one skeleton, much decayed, and a few handfuls of dark mould or dust ; the skeleton appeared never to have been disturbed from the position in which it had originally been placed. The remains of the bones were of a dark chocolate colour. The long bones of the extremities, a great part of the spine, the pelvis, skull, and lower jaw were nearly perfect; all the small bones of the hands and feet, the ribs, and cervical vertebras had mouldered away. The skeleton was that of a tall man. The skull was well formed, with good frontal development, the occipital aspect was also full, the squamous portions of the temporal bones had mouldered away, leaving irregular openings in their situation on each side, — 1 J inch diam. The circumference of the skull, above the auditory opening, was 22J^ inches. The skull bore evidence of being that of an old person, since the alveolar processes in the lower jaw, and also the greater number of those in the upper jaw, were almost entirely absorbed." The Rev. S. Blois Turner gave an account of some mural paintings recently discovered in the church of St. James, South Elmham, Sufi^"olk, and he exhibited representations of the principal designs. They consisted of the customary figure of St. Christopher, with the infant Jesus on his shoulder, and his hermit-companion coming forth from his house to meet the saint. A cock is depicted perched in the window. The paintings were about 12 feet in length ; they were enclosed within an ornamental border, and wei'e placed on each side of a window in the North wall, opposite to • the Porch. A third painting, on the left side of the east window, repre- sented the Virgin seated, with the infant Saviour in her arms. T^vo small angels supported the ends of her very long tresses ; her features were expressive, but the rest of the design was rudely executed, and drawn - Godwin, dc Pncs. p. ^ii'2. VOL, VII. R R