drangular section, and circular ends slightly dilated. It weighed 447 grains. 2. A finger ring of very exquisite workmanship. The body of the ring was made of mother-of-pearl, and on it was set an oval medallion with a cypher E R in relief, the E being made of diamonds, the R of blue enamel; on each side along the shank of the ring was a line of rubies set in gold. The medallion with the cypher opened and disclosed a recess in the mother of-pearl with a bust in low relief, apparently a portrait of Jane Seymour, three-quarter face. The bust was made of gold coloured with enamel or paint, and was set with a small diamond as a brooch. The inner surface of the lid with the cypher enclosed a bust in profile of Queen Elizabeth in enamelled gold, with a ruby set as a brooch. Within the ring, and therefore at the back of the portrait of Jane Seymour, was a small oval plate of gold ornamented with translucent enamel, and representing an earl's coronet, over which the phoenix in flames. The phoenix was a well known badge of Queen Elizabeth, but it was also adopted as the crest of the Seymour family to whom it must here be referred. Edward Seymour, eldest son of the Protector by his second wife, was created Earl of Hertford by Queen Elizabeth in 1559; and it is probable that the ring was made shortly after, before he lost the favour of the Queen through his marriage with Lady Catharine Grey. 3. A small 4to. Manuscript volume of 60 leaves. Of these 50 are occupied by illuminations representing different events in the life and passion of our Lord. Beneath each of these is a quatrain of French verse, which, with the miniature, is inclosed in a golden border of an architectural character. The title and intention of the work is given in the preface, the first portion of which runs as follows: "Sensuit le chappellet de Ihesus et de la vierge Marie auecque les grans tresors infiniz de grace que nře sgr Ihesu crist tres misericordieux par le moyen de sa tresdigne vierge mere diceulx tresoriere infiniement sont elargiz et distribuez au peuple cristien qui au seruice a eulx acceptable se exposent et continuent tout aussy come sa verite se demonstre par pluseurs exemples et miracles Et entre les aultres vng tressingulier et recomande. Cest assauoir que lan de grace mil deulx cens quatre vings lange de dieu sapparust a vng Sainct home nome Jehan de fontaines natyff de Sauoye mesnant vie austere en la forest dangereuse et luy apporta vng petit tractie singulier et contemplatyf nome le chappellet de Jhesus et de la vierge Marie. Le quel est compose de cincquante vers narratyfs des haulx et divins misteres les queles en leur signification se dient et adresent a la glorieuse vierge 2 c 2 mere de Dieu. Et affin de auertir la manire de dire icelluy chappellet lon doibt deuant chữnz vers dire aue mara. The style of the miniatures is thoroughly Flemish. The colouring is vivid and harmonious, and the execution of great delicacy; but the design is hardly of corresponding excellence; the actions being in many instances exaggerated, and the attitudes of the figures forced and abrupt. Following the series of sacred subjects is a miniature in the same style, representing a royal personage kneeling before the Blessed Virgin, who appears to him with the Child at her breast seated on a crescent, and encircled with a golden nimbus. He holds a rosary in his hand, and wears round his neck the collar of the Toison d'or. A royal crown is at his feet. At the foot of this miniature are these lines: "Dame qui de vře doulx lait Allectates le createur Tant que en la fin pardon lui face." The face is young and beardless; the features very peculiar, exhibiting that strange formation of the mouth to be seen in the early portraits of Charles V. (see Archæologia, vol. xxxix. p. 263) before his chin was covered with a beard; and which is also to be noticed in the portraits of his brother Ferdinand. The binding of the volume is of green velvet secured by clasps of silver gilt, on which, in raised letters, are the monograms ths and ma. On the plates of silver which fasten the clasps to the cover are fixed the letters A.N.N.A. From these and from the portrait above mentioned, it seems probable that the MS. was executed for Ferdinand, who became King of Hungary and Bohemia in 1526 by his marriage with Anne, daughter of Wladislaus IV. and who was afterwards Emperor of Germany. Besides the clasps, there are also on the covers of the book ten ornamental bosses of silver gilt, five on each side, that is one at each corner, and one in the centre. These are formed in the fashion of a Tudor Rose, and have fixed to their centres the letters M.A.R.G.V.E.R.I.T.E. in silver, from which it is inferred that the book subsequently came into the possession of Margaret Tudor, the daughter of Henry VII., and wife of James IV. of Scotland. The volume seems to have been in 1726 in the possession of Martin Folkes. This interesting relic has been since presented by the Earl of Home to the British Museum, where it is preserved as Add. MS. 25,693. Thanks were returned for these Communications. Thursday, 5th May, 1864. OCTAVIUS MORGAN, Esq., M.P., V.P., in the Chair. The following Presents were announced, and Thanks ordered to be returned to the Donors: From the Author.—Architectural Notes on Layer Marney Hall, Essex; and on the parish church adjoining. By Charles Forster Hayward. (From Trans. of Essex Archæological Society, vol. 3, part 1.) 8vo. Colchester, 1862. From the Author, George Scharf, Esq., F.S.A. :— 1. On the principal portraits of Shakspeare. (From "Notes and Queries." 3rd S. v. 333.) 8vo. London, 1864. 2. National Portrait Gallery. April 23rd, 1864. Observations on the Chandos portrait of Shakspeare. An octavo handbill. From the Royal Lombardic Institute of Science and Literature.-Reconditi. Classe di Lettere e Scienze morali e politiche. Volume 1. Fasc. 1 e 2. 8vo. Milan, 1864. From Augustus W. Franks, Esq., Dir. S.A. : 1. On the Paintings and Merits of Richard Wilson, R.A., and particularly on a full-length portrait of J. H. Mortimer, A.R.A. By J. Britton, F.S.A. 4to. [London, 1842.] 2. Meeting of the Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (From the Newcastle Chronicle.) 4to. Newcastleupon-Tyne, 1852. From the Canadian Institute of Industry, Science, and Art.-The Canadian Journal. New Series. No. 50, March. 8vo. Toronto, 1864. From the Institute of Archæological Correspondence, Rome: 1. Monumenti Inediti. Vols. 7 and 8, plates 73 to 84. Folio. Rome, 1863. [Completing vols. 7 and 8.] 2. Annali. Vol. 35. 8vo. Rome, 1863. 3. Bulletino per l'anno 1863. 8vo. Rome, 1863. From the New England Historic-Genealogical Society.-Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. By Henry Bond, M.D. 8vo. Boston, 1860. From the Society, through W. H. Black, Esq., F.S.A.-Jerusalem Water Relief Society. Established 1864. 8vo. London. [Pamphlet; contains a map of the country, and sections.] W. D. HAGGARD, Esq., F.S.A., exhibited and presented the following MS. collections respecting English Medals: 1. Two volumes of Extracts from Van Loon, "Histoire Metallique des Pays Bas," comprising the medals there described relating to English History, translated into English. 2. A catalogue of Mr. Haggard's collection of English Medals, with valuations by the late Matthew Young. 3. A list and description of medals relating to the Pretenders, chiefly taken from Mr. Haggard's collections. Special thanks were voted for these additions to the Society's Library. W. C. HARNETT, Esq. F.S.A., exhibited and presented to the Society an original charter granted by James III. of Scotland, (bearing date 12th July, 1481), to Walter Lord Innermeath, and Margaret Lindsay his spouse, of certain lands of barony, together with the castle called Redecastell. A descendant of this Walter Stewart, Lord Innermeath, was created Earl of Athole in 1596, on the extinction of the previous Stewarts, Earls of Athole. The following is a copy of the charter: "Jacobus dei gracia Rex Scotorum omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue clericis et laicis salutem. Sciatis nos dedisse concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse dilecto consanguineo nostro Waltero Dño Innermeth et Mergerete Lindissay sponse sue et eorum alteri diucius viventi in conjuncta infeodacione totas et integras terras dominicales baronie ac terrarum de Redecastell vnacum castro nuncupato le Redecastell et molendino dicte baronie cum pertinentiis jacentes infra vicecomitatum nostrum de Forfare. Quequidem terre dominicales castrum et molendinum cum pertinentiis fuerunt dicti Walteri hereditarie et quas ac que idem Walterus non vi aut metu ductus nec errore lapsus sed sua mera et spontanea voluntate in manus nostras apud Edinburgh per fustem et baculum et suos procuratores ad hoc legittime constitutos sursum reddidit pureque simpliciter resignavit ac totum jus et clameum que in dictis terris castro et molendino habuit seu habere potuit pro se et heredibus suis omnino quietum clamavit in perpetuum Tenendas et habendas totas et integras dictas terras dominicales castrum et molendinum dicte baronie de Redecastell dictis Waltero et Margarete sponse sue et eorum alteri diucius viventi in conjuncta infeodacione et heredibus inter ipsos legittime procreatis seu procreandis quibus deficientibus heredibus legittimis dicti Walteri quibuscunque de nobis et successoribus nostris in feodo et hereditate in perpetuum per omnes rectas metas suas antiquas et divisas prout jacent in longitudine et latitudine in boscis planis moris marrescis viis |