Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/167

 9*hs.v.FEB.24,i90o.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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In a limestone quarry at Langrove, in 1827, were found fragments of three very ancient leaf-shaped British bronze swords, portions of a bronze spear- head, and a piece of wrought iron in the shape of a Y, greatly corroded by rust. In the Bacon Hole marks of human residence were discovered ; though none were found " below the upper stalagmite, in the mud above it were some pieces of British pottery." In Minchen Hole, meanwhile, so recently as 1896, a bone pin, a piece of a Roman mortuarium, a small bit of Samian ware, and other articles were discovered. The difficulty of conveying to the reader an idea of the treasures that have been unearthed is augmented by the fact that these are arranged under localities, and not under separate heads. In very many cases, moreover, conjecture itself is at fault in endeavouring t supply an account of some of the antiquities with which the district abounds. Of the earthworks known as " Penlle'r Bebyll," the chief place of the tabernacles, or habitations, Col. Morgan, who describes its appearance, can only say, " What it has been none can tell"; and of the adjacent Penlle'r Castell (-sic) he adds, " Absolutely nothing is known about the Castle, when or by whom it was erected, or what it was called." As its date is that of the Norman Conquest, this absence of information is perplexing. Col. Morgan's conjecture is that Henry or Harry Beaumont, the supposed builder of trie original castle of Swansea, took possession of the western portion only of Gower, and that the eastern portion was held by the Welsh, whose stronghold and castle, this remained. Among pleasing features in a volume which makes direct appeal to antiquaries are the illustrations and plans of S t. Mary's Church, Swansea ; of the castles at Swansea and Oyster- mouth ; of cromlechs, sculptured stones, and other objects of interest. These include maps of mega- lithic and ecclesiastical remains, and military antiquities. Most important among the supple- ments is Col. Morgan's attempt to settle the much- disputed question as to the origin of the name of Swansea. As readers of our pages are aware, he is convinced that the Sein Henyd of the Welsh his- torians corresponds to Swansea, and he now suggests that the two names are identical. The subject has both interest and importance. We have no such information or knowledge, however, as justifies us in pronouncing an opinion upon it. An essay on ' The Ethnography of Gower ' constitutes an important feature in a book with strong claims on attention.

Acts of the Privy Council of England. New Series. Vol. XIX. A.D. 1590. Edited by John Roche Dasent, C.B. (Eyre & Spottiswoode.) COMPARED with the years by which it had been preceded, 1590 was, as regards English politics and social development, dull and uneventful. This state of affairs is reflected in the Acts of the Privy Council, the register of which, from 25 March to 30 September, has few entries of much interest to modern readers. The death, in his ninetieth year, of Sir Francis Walsingham, Knight, " Principall Secretaire to her Maiestie, and Chauncellour of the Duohie of Lancaster, is chronicled as having taken place on 13 April "about xj of the clock in the night." Allusion is also made to the death of Sir James Croft, Comptroller of the Household. The fall of Sir John Perrot (or Perrott, as the name is here spelt) is passed over practically in silence. His -death will presumably be dealt with in a subsequent

volume. Many of the entries deal with the punish- ment of recusants. Milder treatment is afforded to Catholic prisoners, foreign priests being only banished the realm, and " Seminarie" priests of Eng- lish birth being bound over to good behaviour. We have no reference to stage plays or to Court enter- tainments. Mr. Dasent s editorial duties are, as usual, admirably discharged ; but the volume in all other respects is inferior to its predecessor. Those who read it carefully will find not a few x>oints raised which have a bearing upon our present position, such especially as the carriage of muni- tions of war to the Spaniards, her Majesty being certainly " aduertized that under the pretence of merchandize there were amongst them [masters and mariners belonging to the Low Countries] that did convey munytion and provicion of warrinto Spaine, as there were divers Ivkewyse that cullored the goods of Spanyards in their intercourse of tratick." Such, however, were the subject of special atten- tion by Sir John Hawkins and Sir Martin Fro- busher (sic), Knights.

The Antonine Wall Report. (Glasgow Archaeological

Society.)

A LONG delay for which no explanation is vouch- safed, but for which we have no idea of calling the authorities to account has preceded the publica- tion of this report of the proceedings for the exploration of the Antonine Wall undertaken during the years 1890-93 by a representative com- mittee of the Glasgow Archaeological Society. This Vallum of Antonine, known by various names, of which the most popular are Graham's Dyke and, generically, the Roman Wall, crosses Scotland at its narrowest part, from Dunglass Castle on the Clyde to Caer Ridden Kirk, near the Firth of Forth, or, according to its latest describers, from Old Kil- patrick on the Clyde to Bridgeness, near Carriden, a distance of about thirty-six and a half standard miles. After having in the person of his lieutenant Quintus Lollius Urbicus conquered the Britons and driven away the barbarians, the Emperor Antoninus Pius erected a murus cexpiticius, for the purpose of preserving his conquests from the ravages of Northern tribes. Students of Scottish history are well aware of the discussions to which this con- struction has given rise. Among classical references the account of Julius Capitolinus stands foremost in value and interest. What is said by native writers Bede, Gildas, Nennius, and the rest adds nothing to our knowledge. Thanks, however, to the inscriptions still preserved, and priceless in value, we have some few certainties on which to rest. The attention of the Society was first called to the subject when a cutting for the Carron Com- pany's branch railway, passing under Croy Hill, laid bare a section of the Roman military way. Interest was at once stirred, private assistance was forthcoming, and, thanks to the encourage- ment afforded, a series of investigations was carried out under the competent direction of a committee of Scottish antiquaries. Among the members of this was Mr. George Neilson, whose services to archaeology are well Known to our readers. To him has been entrusted the task of co-ordinating the results obtained, and the work, so far as the literary portion is concerned, is his. It is obviously im- possible to give our readers any insight into the results obtained. For these we must refer them to the work itself. The plough has in the course of centuries obliterated many of the traces of human.