From the imperfect and often contradictory accounts given by Chroniclers of events which occurred in early periods of English History, our knowledge of even the most important of them is confined and unsatisfactory. Nor do the invaluable records preserved in the Fædera always reconcile discrepancies, or present a connected narrative of transactions, however much they corroborate or establish particular facts.

As every new discovery relating to British Antiquity must prove interesting to your Society, I beg leave to send you an account of some discoveries which were made within these few years on Hamden Hill; and which I should have transmitted to the Society long ago, had I not hoped that some more able Antiquary would have given you notice of them.

I observe, that several communications respecting municipal Seals have been formerly made to the Society, and am consequently induced to address you upon the subject of one, which presents a fair claim to their notice.

The first municipal Seal now extant, which was used by the commonalty of the burgh of Bristol, is no less curious for the excellence of the engraving, as a work of art at the time of its execution, than the historical design, concerning which, I request to submit some Observations which have occurred upon a careful examination of it.

I beg leave, through your assistance, to call the attention of the Society of Antiquaries to an interesting Roman remain which I lately noticed whilst tracing the line of Antonine's Vallum from Bowness to Old Kilpatrick.

The derivation of the word “Mass” having lately been the subject of our conversation, I am induced to offer you the following Remarks upon it, from which I think it will appear that the word, as used to signify the service of the Roman Catholic Church, is wholly distinct, both in derivation and sense, from “mas” the adjunct to Christ, &c. in the words, “Christmas,” “Candlemas,” “Lammas,” &c. In the former sense it seems to come from the Latin “Missa,” and in the latter from the Anglo-Saxon “mærre;” the one having been used in the early ages of the Church as a word of dismission to the congregation, or a part of it, and the other signifying a feast or solemn festival.

The explanation of the Inscription on Mr. Cumberland's Runic Ring, which has been presented to the Society by its truly learned Member Mr. Hamper, is, in all respects, so lucid and satisfactory that not a shadow of doubt could have fallen on its accuracy and propriety; but it will be no small gratification to that gentleman to learn, that previously to the application which he received on the subject, a copy of the inscription on the Ring had been conveyed to Professor Finn Magnuren, of the Scandinavian Society at Copenhagen; a person who is said to be extremely well skilled in the knowledge of the ancient Northern languages, and that this gentleman has reduced the inscription to precisely the same words, the parties differing only in one letter, where the advantage is evidently on the side of Mr. Hamper. The gratification must indeed be mutual to these learned investigators.

In the paucity of Communications I take the liberty of placing before your Lordship and the Society of Antiquaries, a Copy of a Plan proposed to Queen Elizabeth by Sir Humphry Gilbert, for instituting what is called a London Academy, that is an University in the Metropolis, upon a scale of considerable magnitude, with no mean pay to the Professors of Learning. My Transcript is made from the manuscript Proposal which was actually presented. It has Lord Burghley's indorsement upon it; but is without date.

The Question concerning the place of Shipwreck of St. Paul (Acts, ch. xxvii.), and which had been, with great appearance of truth, referred, from the earliest times, to the Island of Malta, might be thought too trite for discussion, had it not been disputed by some learned persons in latter times; on a supposition that the term Adria, as applied by St. Paul to the Sea in which the shipwreck took place, could only refer to the Adriatic Gulf, or that of Venice. It may therefore be proper to show, that this is an error of the modern Critics; since there can be no doubt that the term Adria was really applied more extensively; and that it included, besides the Gulf of Venice, a considerable portion of the Mediterranean Sea, lying in the direct course of St. Paul's voyage to Rome.

Will you allow me to communicate to the Society of Antiquaries the inclosed Papers relating to Charity Boxes? The accompanying drawings are taken from three different churches in Norfolk, and are curious for their contrivances in preventing the money deposited therein from being stolen. They were generally secured by two keys, most probably kept by the two Churchwardens, and although many were “honest men and true,” a few may have had some inclination to finger “the gode red golde;” as in the following quotation from one of the plays of Ben Jonson:

“1 Gyp. On Sundays you rob the poor's-box with your tabor;

The Collectors would do it, you save them a labour.

Pup. Faith, but a little they 'll do it non upstant.”a

Having lately had occasion to examine the Subsidy Roll of the 51st year of Edward the Third, printed in the seventh volume of the “Archæologia,” I am induced to offer you some remarks on the degree of information which that curious document appears to supply, with reference to the population of our ancient Cities.

By the kindness of Mr. Fenner, of Eye, I have now the pleasure of sending you the Seal, of which I before forwarded you the impression, for the inspection of the Society.

It appears to have been the Seal of Ethilwald Bishop of Dunwich, of whom the “Profession of Faith,” addressed to Celnoth Archbishop of Canterbury from A.D. 830 to 870, is referred to by Wharton in the Appendix to the Anglia Sacra, vol. I. p. 801, as existing in the Cottonian MS. Cleopatra, E. 1. in the British Museum.

I consider the interesting communication of my friend Mr. Douce, published by the Society of Antiquaries, in the xviith volume of the “Archaeologia,” p. 290, so very instructive, that I am induced to trouble you with this Letter. My object is to shew what application of it may be made, so as to bring us more intimately acquainted with the manners of our ancestors; and if you think I have succeeded, you will probably favour me by reading it to the Society.

The late discovery of a Vessel under the ancient bed of the river Rother having given rise to various conjectures and contradictory statements, respecting her age and former service, and the subject being of some interest in naval architecture, I was directed by Sir Byam Martin, at the request of Lord Melville, to repair to the place where she was found, and to obtain a true account of her build and situation; in order, if possible, to ascertain the country she belonged to, and the period of her submersion. My Report has been subsequently transmitted to the Admiralty; and, at the suggestion of Mr. Barrow, I have taken the liberty of addressing to you a Letter, containing the substance of that Report; and should the subject be compatible with the regulations as to Papers usually read at the Society of Antiquaries, it will afford me much satisfaction if you will do me the favour to introduce it at the ensuing meeting.

In doing myself the honour of transmitting to you the following admirable remarks of my friend Mr. Arthur Taylor, permit me briefly to preface them with some explanatory observations, which, on perusal, you will allow are demanded of me.

I have the honour of transmitting to your Lordship the Account which I received at Valleyfield from Sir Robert Preston. I accompanied him to the Abbey-church of Culross, and saw the plate containing the inscription relating to the Heart of Lord Edward Bruce there interred. The plate contains likewise a delineation of the Silver Case containing it; being in the shape of a heart, with all its ramification of veins, which I was unable to copy.

In the subjoined letter, which, as a family relic, I lately communicated to Mr. Lister Parker, and which has since been read to this Society, allusion is made to a stage-coach in 1663. This led me to enquire into the antiquity of wheeled carriages, and the modes of travelling formerly adopted in this country, and should you consider the fruits of my researches sufficiently interesting to merit the attention of the Society, you are at liberty to lay them before that body.