By Mr. Donaldson.—A circular bronze matrix, of Italian workmanship, date late in the 13th cent., inscribed ✠ : MINATIVS : D'. MARRIS : P'PO'X : ECCLEXIE : S'CE : MARIE : D':GALLATE. The contraction used in the word prepositus is very unusual, resembling an X, which occurs again in the following word in place of an S. It has been supposed that the church in question may be Gallarate, in the North of Italy. The device is a figure of the Virgin.
By Mr. R. Naughten, of Inverness.—A drawing of a silver armilla, found, Oct. 1850, under a large block of stone, at Stratherricks, Co. Inverness. Also an interesting silver signet ring, found in the same parts of North Britain. The impress is an escutcheon, charged with the initial W., surmounted by a crown, and a fleur-de-lys beneath the letter. Over the escutcheon is the letter R., and at its sides A. and O. (?), or perhaps d. It is placed in a quatrefoiled panel.
By Mr. Richard Green, F.S.A., of Lichfield.—The exquisite signet-ring of Mary, Queen of Scots, formerly in the Royal Collection. It bears a beautiful atchievement of her arms, engraved in Mr. Laing's interesting "Catalogue of Scottish Seals." The hoop was formerly enamelled.
By the Rev. G. M. Nelson, of Bodicote Grange.—A representation of a brass ring, lately found at Hempton, Oxfordshire, and in the possession of Mr. Davis, of that place. It is in the form of a strap and buckle, or of a garter, and is contrived so as to admit of being contracted or enlarged, to suit the wearer's finger,—the end of the strap being formed with little knobs, upon which the buckle catches, and keeps the ring adjusted at the desired size. The hoop is inscribed in relief, "MATER DEI MEMENTO." A ring of this type was communicated to the Institute by Mr. W. Hylton Longstaffe; and there is another in the British Museum.
By W. J. Bernhard Smith, Esq.—Five iron maces, described as of European workmanship, and supplying various types of this ancient weapon. The handle of one of them was ingeniously contrived with a strong band of iron wound spirally around a bar, by which the weapon must have acquired considerable elasticity.
By Henry J. Tomkins, Esq.—A MS. on parchment, being a Latin poem, in hexameters and pentameters, entitled, "Annunciatio pacis super terram, temporisque benigni, ac Anni Domino accepti, &c. Anno 1576." It is dedicated by the author, Roger Ducket, to the distinguished statesman and poet of the Elizabethan age, Sir Edward Dyer. On the reverse of the title are drawn his arms,—three goats passant; and a curious symbolical limning is placed before the poem, representing Satan and Death dominant over the earth, on one side,—and on the other, the Lamb victorious over Death and Hell (Rev. xii. 10). The Edward Dyer here addressed as "venerabili imprimis et doctissimo," was probably the courtier of the reign of Elizabeth, employed by her in foreign embassies, knighted in 1596 on his being made Chancellor of the Garter. He wrote pastorals, which are to be found in "England's Helicon."
By George Vulliamy, Esq.—Several medieval relics found in the bed of the river Thames, during the works preparatory for the erection of the Houses of Parliament. These objects comprised small knives, such as were used by ladies, in pairs, appended to the girdle; one bears the forge mark, the letter L crowned. Also some keys, and a singular brass bodkin. A kalendar, printed at Venice, in 1476; the "impressori" being "Bernardus pictor de Augusta, Petrus loslein de Langencen, Erhardus ratdolt de
