peculiar, and partake largely of the Frankish form. Unlike the Celtic urns, they are contracted at the mouth, and have a kind of neck instead of the overhanging lip or rim which characterizes so much of the sepulchral pottery of that period. They are formed by hand, not on the wheel, like so many of the Romano-British period, and are usually of a dark-coloured clay, sometimes nearly black, at other times a dark brown, and occasionally of a slate

or greenish tint, produced by surface colouring. The general form of these vessels will be understood by reference to the engravings. Most of them are of plain form, but others have projecting knobs, or bosses, formed by pressing out the pliant clay from the inside with the hand. In others these raised bosses take the form of ribs gradually swell

ing out from the bottom, till at the top they expand into semi-egg-shaped protuberances. The ornamentation on the urns usually consists of encircling incised lines in bands or otherwise, and vertical or zigzag lines arranged in a variety of ways; and, not unfrequently, the knobs or protuberances of which I have just spoken. Sometimes, also, they present evident attempts at imitation of the Roman eggand-tongue ornament. The marked feature of the pottery of this period is the frequency of small punctured or impressed ornaments, which are introduced along with the lines or bands with very good effect. These ornaments were evidently produced by the end of a stick cut and notched across in different directions so as to form crosses and other patterns. In some districts-especially in the East Angles-they are ornamented with simple patterns painted upon their surface in white; but so far as my knowledge goes, no example of this kind of decoration has been found in the Mercian cemeteries.

The pottery of the Norman period consists principally of pitchers, dishes, bowls, or basins, and porringers or pipkins-the bowls or basins and dishes being used for drinking purposes as well as for placing cooked meats in; the pitchers for holding and carrying ale, mead, water, and other liquors to the table; and the porringers both for cooking and eating purposes. The engraving (Fig. 184), from an illuminated MS. of the 12th century,

shows both the pitchers and the wine or water vessels.

I purposely abstain from even alluding to the pottery of a later date than Norman in this chapter,

CHAPTER VII.

AMONG ARMS AND ARMOUR.

THE arms of our prehistoric forefathers-the implements of stone and of bronze-have been spoken of in their respective chapters, and therefore it would simply be useless repetition to again name them. The Roman invasion and occupation of our island, and the long and close connection which existed between our countrymen and the Romans consequent upon that occupation, led, naturally, to the adoption of the armour and warlike appliances of the Imperial city. Tacitus tells us that after the administration of Julius Agricola, who was appointed to the command of Britain, A.D. 78, "the sons of the British chieftains began to affect our dress," and therefore we may easily and reasonably surmise that they also-as, indeed, there is abundant reason for supposing to be the case-copied and wore the same kinds of defensive covering, and used the same kinds of weapons. Remains of armour of the Romano-British period are occasionally met

with in England. The sword and the dagger, etc., have already been spoken of; in addition to these was the shield with, sometimes, its elegant boss ; and the spear or lance head.

The armour of the Anglo-Saxons, like their arms, partook of the Frankish character. Remains of this period are few and far between.

Helmets, or head

coverings, in a fragmentary state, have on some few occasions been found. The most remarkable was found at Benty Grange, in Derbyshire, in 1848, along with many personal ornaments and other objects. The frame of this helmet "consists of a series of iron bands, radiating from the crown of