Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/161

 TlIK Ai:CIIAi:(»LOaiCAL INSTITUTE. Ill was cut through and reuiovcil. The face was covered hy numerous folds of thick cloth, which Iiad preserved the skin in a flexihle state, and the expression of the features was still strikingly characterised, so as to enable Mr. Scharf to preserve a fair portrait of the deceased, as he might have appeared shortly after death. An anatomical examination was prosecuted, and an incision made down the abdomen, for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the corpse, but no fact of interest to the antiquary had resulted from this exposure of the remains. A wooden crosier, measuring G ft. 2 in. in length, lay diagonally upon the body : the crook is of oak, the staff of deal ; the crockcted ornaments are carved with little regularity, and the surface covered with whiting, but no trace of gilding or colour could he perceived. This, probably, was not the pastoral staft" actually used by the deceased, but one provided for the ceremonial of his interment. By Lord Seymour's direction, it has been deposited in the British Museum. No episcopal ring or other relics were found, hut the arms had been broken and removed, and the ring was doubtless lost at the same time. There can be scarcely a question that these were the remains of William Lyndwode, Bishop of St. David's, keeper of the privy seal, t. lien. VI., frequently employed in foreign embassies, and eminent as a canonist and compiler of the " Provinciale." lie died a. i). 1446, and was buried, as Godwin states, in St. Stephen's ; royal license being also granted to his executors to found a chantry in the hassa capella, wherein no doubt a suitable tomb had been erected to receive his remains. At the dissolution of religious houses it is supposed that they were removed, stripped of their outer covering of lead, and deposited in the wall. The Society of Antiquaries, it may be hoped, will publish in the Archseologia the memorials prepared by Mr. Scharf's able pencil. Mr. Wynne Ffoulkes wished to observe, before the subject passed, that he thought it was to be regretted that the investigation of this interment had been carried so far ; he thought the observation might come as well from him as from any other member of the Institute, inasmuch as he was one of those who devoted himself more especially to the investigation and examination of barrows and tumuli. In inquiring into habits, manners, and customs of races, of whose peculiarities we know little from history, their tombs are a legitimate and important means towards that end ; but he thought there was nothing to justify such searching examination into the sepulchre of a Christian bishop of the fifteenth century. He therefore must deeply regret that the investigation of the tomb in St. Stephen's Chapel had led to a deseci'ation of the body itself by the disturbance of its integuments. Mr. Morgan expressed his hearty concurrence in the feeling evinced by Mr. Ffoulkes's observations. He thought that arclucologists should ever pursue their investigations with becoming decency and respect to the deposit of the grave ; and be very careful lest they should hazard losing their character by a disregard of that feeling towards the dead, which was perfectly compatible with the legitimate prosecution of their researches for any scientific object. The Rev. JosEr-n Hunter, in reference to the ceremonies observed in depositing the remains of distinguished persons in mediieval times, observed that it appears by contemporary record that a plate of gold was laid upon the body of Edward III. in his tomb at Westminster. He was not aware that it had ever been removed, in any examination of the royal monuments.