Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/378

 298 PROCEEDIXGS AT MEETINGS OF Harpsden Church, Oxfordshire. It had prohably been a Chantry chapel. The date of these tiles, which deserve notice as good examples of decorative design, appears to be the early part of the fourteenth century. They have been presented by Mr. Leighton to the British Museum, where a considera- ble number of pavement tiles are preserved, chiefly from Dr. Mantell's collections. By Mr. J. E. Rolls. — A decorative pavement tile, recently found in demolishing the remains of an ancient structure, at Monmouth. It pre- sents an heraldic achievement, with helm and mantlings, and the inscrip- tion around the margin, * Orate pro animabus Thome Coke (or Colie ?) et Alicie uxoris sue. f. f. r.' The armorial bearing, — Three castles, 2, I, the crest, — a griffin statant, wings raised. By the lion. Board of Ordnance. — An object of most elaborate and beautiful workmanship, formed of iron, ornamented with intricate designs in pierced work, of an Oriental character. In its general form it bears resemblance to the stirrup-irons used by some eastern nations, but its origin and purpose have not been ascertained. By Mr. Edward Hcsset. — An impression from a large matrix, formed of wood,* the seal of the Grammar School at Sevenoaks, Kent, generally known as " Queen Elizabeth's Free School," but founded, 1432, by Sir William de Sennocke, or Sevenoaks, Lord Mayor of London in 1419.^ It is of pointed-oval form, and the design represents the Ludimagister seated under a rudely fashioned canopy, and holding out a rod to a scholar on the right — an open book to another on his left. Six other discipuli of various stature appear kneeling below, and under them is written, servire. dec. REGKARi. EST. Arouud the margin of the seal, -j- sigillvm. commvxe. SCOLE. GRAMATiCALis. DE. SEVENOK. IN. com'. KANCE. In the field, near the seated figure, are the initials, R. b., being those of Ealph Bosville, who obtained from Queen Elizabeth a patent of incorporation, in 1560, the date to which this seal is doubtless to be assigned. This wooden matrix, long lost, was accidentally found about ] 840, having been given to a child to play with. The corporation had supplied its place by a seal bearing an escutcheon with seven acorns. By Mr. W. J, Bernhard Smith. — An adze of jade, from New Zealand, the handle very short, about six inches only, the length of the stone being eight inches ; it is wedged in a most ingenious and efi'ective manner between two pieces of wood, firmly bound round, and into the lower piece the haft is fixed. This adze may serve to illustrate the manner in which some of the ancient stone implements, found in Europe, may have been hafted. Also a brace of Italian pistols, curious examples, with snaphaunce locks. By Mr. Octavius Morgan. — An ancient Chinese vessel of bronze, richly enamelled, and an incense vase of bronze, damascened or inlaid with silver : fine examples of ancient Chinese metal-work. By Mr. Jewitt. — An Albanian hategar, or short sword. (Compare Skelton's Goodrich, Court Armory, Vol. ii., pi. 142.) By Mr. Forrest. — A silver chalice and paten of the fifteenth century ; two enamelled cups, of the work of Limoges ; with other curious objects of medieval workmanship, and a remarkable suit of Oriental armour, '^ The material has been described as in his Notes on Churches in Kent, &c., heart of oak, but Mr. Hussey considei-s it p. 148. to be box-wood. A representation of this " Dugdalc, Mon. Angl. vol. vi. p. 765. seal is given by the Rev. Arthur Hussey,