SUSSEX ARCHÆOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, relating to the History and Antiquities of the County. Published by the Sussex Archæological Society, Vol. VI. London, John Russell Smith, 1853. 8vo.
It gives us pleasure to notice the sixth volume of the Sussex Archæological Society's Collections, which fully maintains the reputation acquired by the others. None of the local societies have shown greater activity or have more distinguished themselves. Some have devoted more money and space to illustrations, while this has rendered its publications attractive by the variety and discursive character of the letter-press, and its volumes really are, what they profess to be. Archæological Collections relating to the history and antiquities of the county. Matters of historical and archæological interest have been discussed in such a manner as to be at the same time useful and popular. Among the writers in the present volume we recognise most of those to whom the former volumes are chiefly indebted. It comprises seventeen papers. The principal meeting of the society for the year having been held at Battle, Mr. Hunter, of the Record Office, has contributed a paper on the so-called Roll of Rattle Abbey, in which, if he have dissipated somewhat of the charm that this Roll, in its various forms, has had for the general reader, and more especially for those who believe themselves descended from some of the fortunate adventurers in the Conqueror's army, because their ancestors' names there appear, he has done good service to the cause of historic truth, the proper object of archæology, by showing on what frail evidence the pretensions even of the least objectionable of the different editions of such Roll depend, and how little reason there is to believe that any authentic original of it ever existed. Mr. M. A. Lower, so well known to the readers of the former volumes, follows with a lively description of the Battle of Hastings, derived from the early authorities, and illustrated by an etching of the field. He has endeavoured to reconcile the narratives of those writers, and has compared them with the various features which the ground now presents. In this, as in most cases of great battles, it is hardly possible to unite the different accounts of the conflict into a consistent whole. Mr. Lower has also contributed some memoranda relating to the family of Borde, in Sussex, with a memoir of Dr. Andrew Borde, physician to King Henry VIII., who was a great traveller, and the author of some works on medicine, and also, according to some, the writer of the "Merry Tales of Gotham"; an eccentric character, whom Mr. Lower supposes to have been of the Sussex family. He has also furnished an interesting account of Pevensey Castle and the recent excavations there, with some illustrations; to which Mr. Figg has supplied a plan that adds not a little to the value of the paper. It will be found of great assistance to any one visiting the spot. Among the relics brought to light during the examination of the area of the castle are a font, discovered on the site of the chapel, the position of which has been ascertained, and a piscina, formed within the capital of a short column, apparently of transition-Norman date, an arrangement of rather uncommon occurrence. (See woodcut.)
Piscina found at east end of the chapel within the Castle of Pevensey.
Mr. Blaauw, the indefatigable Honorary Secretary of the Society, the fruits of whose researches are ever at the service of others, has communicated an account of the visit of Edward II. to Battle and other parts of Sussex, in which the royal progress is described with that minuteness of detail as to provisions, expenses, and other matters illustrative of the manners of the age, which his familiarity with the published and unpublished records enables him to draw from those recondite sources. Another paper, entitled "Warenniana," comprises this gentleman's gleanings, chiefly from unpublished documents, relative to the Earls of Warenne; among which are some very early letters that had not been previously printed, and also some particulars now brought to light after several centuries of seclusion, respecting the estrangement and separation of the last of those Earls from his Countess Joan, daughter of the Count de Bar, and granddaughter of King Edward I., and the transfer of his affections to Maude de Nerford, whom some writers have alleged that he married after having been divorced from his Countess Joan. This has long been an obscure part of that earl's history, and any authentic information elucidating it is acceptable. Mr. Blaauw has also contributed some notices of the Inquests concerning the rebels of Sussex after the termination of the Barons' war in 1265, taken from the original inquisitions. We hope these and other collections on that subject, which have been made by him since the publication of his interesting history of this war, will be some day digested into a new edition of that book. Mr. W. D. Cooper has furnished a valuable contribution towards a history of the liberties and franchises within the rape of Hastings. From Mr. W. S. Ellis we have a paper on the origin of the arms of some Sussex families, in which he enters into some speculations on the antiquity of heraldry. His views on that subject have been more fully developed in a pamphlet entitled, "A Plea for the Antiquity of Heraldry," London, J. R. Smith, 1853. This, as well as the paper just mentioned, is not without interest, though we think a further and more critical investigation of the subject will essentially modify some of his opinions. The Rev. A. Hussey, in "An Inquiry after the site of Anderida or Andredesceaster," re-asserts the claims of Pevensey to be the place, and advances some additional arguments in support of that conclusion. To the Rev. G. M. Cooper the volume is indebted for an interesting account of Michelham Priory, in the parish of Arlington, in which he has brought together a considerable quantity of material towards a more complete history of it, with a cut of the Priory seal, which had not been previously published, and some illustrations of the architectural remains. (See woodcuts.)
Seal and counterseal of Michelham Priory, Sussex, appended to an indenture, dated 1376, in the Chapter-house, Westminster.
This seal has been engraved from a drawing by Mrs. Baauw, whose tasteful pencil has also contributed to the illustrations of the Memoir by copies of drawings by Grimm in the Burrell collections, British Museum, which supply so valuable a series of memorials of Sussex antiquities in great part now destroyed. The Rev. G. M. Cooper has also furnished a paper on Berwick parochial records, containing some curious particulars exemplifying the practice as to the occupation of land and other usages in a Southdown village, and some local words. Mr. G. R. Corner has given a paper on the custom of Borough English, by which in some places the youngest son or his representative inherits instead of the eldest. Though the custom is found in most other counties, the subject has an appropriateness in regard to Sussex, in consequence of the great number of manors that it contains, in which this custom, or others more or less resembling it, exist: a list of these manors is appended to the communication. Mr. Corner has, we believe, for some years devoted
Double fire-place and mantle-tree with Angle brackets at each side, in the chamber over the crypt.
Crypt under the Refectory. Drawn by Mrs. Blaauw, from the representation preserved amongst Grimm's drawings in the Burrell collections, British Museum.
much attention to the investigation of these peculiarities of tenure and their origin. If we cannot say that ho has satisfactorily shown whence they sprung, or why they are so widely scattered, he has certainly collected much valuable information, and made some useful suggestions, to assist those who may be disposed to go deeper into the subject. Perhaps it would be relieved of some needless difficulties if the custom of Borough English, as it existed in towns, were investigated apart from the customs in manors which resemble it, and are, there is reason to believe, of later origin; and in doing so, the early power of disposing of houses and land by will in such towns, a remnant of Anglo-Saxon law, is not to be disregarded, as it is an important element in judging of the reasonableness of the custom. These numerous exceptions from the general law, though in some manors they may be referrible to mere caprice, seem to imply a social condition in certain localities, which history has very imperfectly transmitted. Mr. Corner has ascertained that there were like customs to be found in Picardy, Artois, and some other places on the continent. From the Rev. J. Dale we have a contribution entitled "Extracts from Churchwardens' Accounts and other matters belonging to the parish of Bolney, contained in a MS. book of the time of Henry VIII." Among other curious items are some relative to the building of the steeple, and also the notices of the collections at "Hognel," which word, it is suggested in a note may, like Hogmenay, be a corrupt derivative from "au guy l'an neuf," the commencement of some verses sung on New Year's day. From those words, dropping the last, it is easy to understand that aug'lan might be obtained, and then, by a transposition not uncommon, augnal, and thence Ognel and Hognel, as the word is spelt in those accounts.
The Rev. F. Spurrell has furnished a description of the Architectural Reliques of Lewes Priory which are contained in the British Museum and the Museum at Lewes, with lithographs. One of the most remarkable is supposed to be part of a circular lavatory of black marble, ten or eleven feet in diameter, executed in the twelfth century. The same gentleman has contributed an Inventory of the goods of Cornelius Humphrey, a substantial yeoman of Newhaven, in 1697; which shows what were then the home comforts and accommodation of persons of that class. And from the Rev. E. Turner we have a brief notice of the programme of the funeral ceremony of Sir Anthony Browne, Standard-bearer of Henry VIII., by whom he was held in great esteem, and was appointed one of the executors of his will. He received from his sovereign a grant of Battle Abbey after the dissolution. He died in 1548, and was interred in Battle Church, where his tomb remains.
