The History and Antiquities of Nations and Societies have been objects of inquiry to curious persons in all ages, either to separate falshood from truth, and tradition from evidence, to establish what had probability for its bails, or to explode what rested only on the vanity of the inventors and propagators. The first traces of every history were rude and imperfect: better methods of preserving facts succeeded. The unchizeled stone or rudest hieroglyphic accompanied the songs of the bards, to perpetuate the atchievements of a whole nation, or a few individuals; till the life of letters, and the complicated transactions, claims, and interests of men, taught them to multiply memorials, and to draw them up with more skill and accuracy.

The History and Antiquities of Nations and Societies have been objects of inquiry to curious persons in all ages, either to separate falshood from truth, and tradition from evidence, to establish what had probability for its basis, or to explode what rested only on the vanity of the inventors and propagators. The first traces of every history were rude and imperfect; better methods of preserving facts succeeded. The unchiseled stone, or rudest hieroglyphic, accompanied the songs of the bards, to perpetuate the atchievements of a whole nation, or a few individuals; till the use of letters, and the complicated transactions, claims, and interests of men, taught them to multiply memorials, and to draw them up with more skill and accuracy.

In the year 1740, as I was viewing, with a friend, the church at Burton Dasset in Warwickshire, we happened to observe a painted board, placed over the entrance into the chancel, but so covered with dust, that neither we nor the sexton, who attended us, knew what to make of it. But as it seemed to represent something uncommon, we desired we might inspect it something more nearly: And when the sexton had taken it down, and washed it, we perceived it was the picture of a coat of arms, with a Beacon for the crest, as represented in Fig. I. and upon further enquiry we found that by tradition, there had been formerly a Beacon upon the north side of the hill where the church stands, erected by one of the Belknap Family, who was then lord of that manor. The board which contains this picture, is nineteen inches and a half in height, and fourteen in breadth. The draught here given of it, is reduced to the size of one fourth of the original.

In the year 1740, as I was viewing, with a friend, the church at Burton Dasset in Warwickshire, we happened to observe a painted board placed over the entrance into the chancel, but so covered with dust, that neither we, nor the sexton who attended us, knew what to make of it. But as it seemed to represent something uncommon, we desired we might inspect it somewhat more nearly: And when the sexton had taken it down, and washed it, we perceived it was the picture of a coat of arms, with a Beacon for the crest, (as represented in plate I.) and upon further enquiry we found that, by tradition, there had been formerly a Beacon upon the North-west side of the hill where the church stands, erected by one of the Belknap family, who was then lord of that manor. The board that contains this picture, is nineteen inches and a half in height, and fourteen in breadth. The draught here given of it is reduced to the size of one fourth of the original.

First, the hall was prepared with a long table on each side, and forms set by them; on the edges of which tables, and under those forms, were layed carpets, and cushions for her majesty to kneel, when she would wash them (the poor). There was also another table laid across the upper end of the hall, somewhat above the foot pace, for the chappelan to stand at. A little beneath the midst whereof, and beneath the foot pace, a stool and cushion of estate was pitched for her majesty to kneel at during service time.

First, the hall was prepared with a long table on each side, and forms set by them; on the edges of which tables, and under those forms, were layed carpets, and cushions for her majesty to kneel, when she would wash them (the poor). There was also another table laid across the upper end of the hall, somewhat above the foot pace, for the chappelan to stand at. A little beneath the midst whereof, and beneath the foot pace, a stool and cushion of estate was pitched, for her majesty to kneel at during service time. This done, the holy water, basons, alms, and other things, being brought into the hall; and the chappelan and poor folks having taken their said places, the yeoman of the laundry, armed with a fair towel, and taking a silver bason filled with warm water and sweet flowers, washed their feet, all, one after another wiped the same with his towel, and so, making a cross a little above the toes, kissed them.

The dean of Exeter (now bishop of Carlisle) shewed the Society a large parchment roll containing a list of new years gifts presented to queen Elizabeth at Greenwich on the 1st January, 1584–5, signed by the queen, and countersigned by John Astley Esq; master and treasurer of the jewels; by which it appears, that the greatest part, if not all the peers and peeresses of the realm, all the bishops, the chief officers of state, and several of the queen's houshold servants, even down to her apothecaries, master-cook, serjeant of the pastry, &c. gave new years gifts to her majesty.

The dean of Exeter [a] shewed the Society a large parchment roll, containing a list of new years gifts presented to queen Elizabeth at Greenwich, on the 1st January, A. R. 27, 1584–5, signed by the queen, and countersigned by John Astley, Esq; master and treasurer of the jewels; by which it appears, that the greatest part, if not all the peers and peeresses of the realm, all the bishops, the chief officers of state, and several of the queen's houshold servants, even down to her apothecaries, mastercook, serjeant of the pastry, &c. gave new years gifts to her majesty.

The church-wardens accompts of a particular parish may in themselves be justly thought a matter of no great consequence, and not worthy of much regard. But these seem to deserve some consideration, as they relate to a very remarkable period in our history, and prove, by facts, the great alterations that were made in religious affairs under the successive reigns of Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth, together with the time and manner of putting them in execution; and may therefore serve both to confirm and illustrate several things related by our ecclesiastical historians.

The church-wardens accompts of a particular parish may in themselves be justiy thought a matter of no great consequence, and not worthy of much regard. But these seem to deserve some consideration, as they relate to a very remarkable period in our history, and prove by facts the great alterations that were made in religious affairs under the successive reigns of Q. Mary and Elizabeth, together with the time and manner of putting them in execution; and may therefore serve both to confirm and illustrate several things related by our ecclesiastical historians.

Dr. Stukely has accurately distinguished two kind of shrines, both equally made for receiving the reliques of saints: but with this difference, that one sort was portable, and used in processions; and the other fixed, as being built of stone, marble, and other heavy materials.

Dr. Stukeley has accurately distinguished two kinds of shrines, both equally made for receiving the reliques of saints: but with this difference, that one sort was portable, and used in processions; and the other fixed, as being built of stone, marble, and other heavy materials. The former of these were called Feretra, under which word Du Fresne says: “Feretra reliquias sanctorum continentia cum processionibus circumlata non semel legere “est.” And although this sort could only with propriety bear that name, yet was it also given to the immoveable fixed shrines; as to our protomartyr's at St. Alban's, Thomas Becket's at Canterbury, Birinus's at Dorchester, Cuthbert's at Durham, and Edward the Confessor's at Westminster.

In my journey into the north the last summer, [1736], I passed some days at Lincoln, on purpose to view the remains of antiquity, which that city affords; and indeed none in England can boast of more, or better deserves the labour of a judicious pen.

In my journey into the North the last summer, [1736,] I passed some days at Lincoln, on purpose to view the remains of antiquity which that city affords; and indeed none in England can boast of more, or better deserves the labour of a judicious pen.

The registers of the bishops of Lincoln, in the bishop's office at Lincoln, begin earlier than those which are remaining either at Canterbury or York, or perhaps any other in England, viz, from bishop Wells, who was consecrated anno 1209, to bishop William Barlow anno 1608. The series is in good preservation: The institutions of Wells, Greethead, Lexington, and Sutton, are wrote on long narrow rolls; the Mss. of appropriations, confirmation of abbots, priors, &c. being endorsed on the same, excepting Sutton's which are wrote in a vellum book; and all the succeeding bishops institutions and Mss. are down to the Reformation; after which period they are most carelesly written on paper.

The registers of the bishops of Lincoln, in the bishop's office at Lincoln, begin earlier than those which are remaining either at Canterbury or York, or perhaps any other in England, viz. from bishop Wells, who was consecrated anno 1209, to bishop William Barlow anno 1608. The series is in good preservation. The institutions of Wells, Greethead, Lexington, and Sutton, are wrote on long narrow rolls; the Mss. of appropriations, confirmation of abbots, priors, &c. being endorsed on the same, excepting Sutton's, which are wrote in a vellum book; as all the succeeding bishops institutions and Mss. are down to the Reformation; after which period they are most carelessly written on paper. One of the most curious and useful records in that repository is a thin quarto, which contains all the endowments of all the vicarages in the diocese, written about 1210.

In a letter to me from Mr. Symson, master of the works of the cathedral at Lincoln, dated 28 September last, I was informed, that, in digging a grave at the west end of that church, they opened the foot of an ancient sepuichre.—The corpse was sewed up in a strong tanned leather hide, the seam running up the middle of the breast.—I should suppose it to be some great lay lord, before the custom prevailed of laying them within the church itself.

In a letter to me from Mr. Symson, master of the works of the cathedral at Lincoln, dated 28 September last, I was informed, that, in digging a grave at the west end of that church, they opened the foot of an ancient sepulchre.—The corpse was sewed up in a strong tanned leather hide, the seam running up the middle of the breast.—I should suppose it to be some great lay lord, before the custom, prevailed of laying them within the church itself.