bones of dogs, which had been buried with the human remains.* Such, probably, was the character of interments usual among the first Danish piratical invaders of Britain. It is observed by the author of Munimenta Antiqua, that, notwithstanding the great variety of diffuse traditional tales respecting the formation of barrows by the Danes, no tradition ascribes a barrow to any particular Danish king, except in the instance of Hubba, who is said to have been buried near the village of Appledore, in Devonshire.† The sea, many years back, swept away this funeral mount, with all its vestigia. Few observations can be offered, relating to the marks by which it is supposed that the sepulture of this people in Britain may be distinguished. It will, however, be recollected that the Danes are confidently believed to have disused, as a general practice, the custom of burning the dead, before their expedition into this country; although, in the instances of those deemed particular heroes, the body might probably be exposed to the operation of fire previous to burial. Such persons were heroes with their own party only, and were sanguinary spoliators in the esteem of discomfited opponents. Affectionate respect, if such a feeling may be attributed to accomplices in rapine, therefore rendered its best tribute by placing fire beneath the deceased warrior's frame; thus removing it, by a destructive flame, from the impotent vengeance of the aggrieved. Presuming on the correctness of the above remarks, ‡ it will be obvious that where we find urns, containing ashes; or any vestiges of the human body, having undergone cremation; we must Some barrows in the Links of Skuil were opened, about the year 1772, under the direction of Sir Joseph (then Mr.) Banks; but not any vestige was discovered which enabled the examiner to attribute the interment to any par ticular people. See Archæol. Vol. III. p. 276. ✦ Munimenta Antiqua, Vol. I. p. 269; and Beauties for Devonshire, p. 261-2. For an illustration of their probable correctness, see Nenia Britannica, Section Observations, with the authorities there quoted; and Gough's Sepulchral Mons, Vol. II. Introduction. must entertain great diffidence in ascribing the sepulchral deposit to Danish hands. According to Wormius, the Danes, in their own country, when they buried in large barrows, placed all the most valuable ornaments of the deceased in the vicinity of his remains. After what has been said in previous sections, it is nearly superfluous to observe that battle barrows were probably raised by the Danes, in common with other nations. Such emphatical monuments of desolating contention [which call forth a shudder of unmixed repugnance, now that time has caused the victor's laurels to wither, and his harvest of plunder is all consumed] are to be seen in many parts of this country; and, in frequent instances, they were undoubtedly raised by the Danes, after battles with the rival Saxons and harassed Britons. It has been already suggested that not any authenticated sepulchral monument of the Anglo-Danes, subsequent to their conversion to Christianity, is now existing. ON THE COINS OF THE ANGLO-DANES.-The coinage of the Anglo-Danes requires only a short notice. The English penny continued to be the standard coin of the realm,* and each of the Anglo-Danish sovereigns issued coins. Those of Canute are of the most frequent occurrence. It is observed by Mr. North, X 4 It may be observed in this place, that the series of English pennies extends, almost without any failure, from the reign of Egbert to the present time. Mr. Pinkerton remarks that the "Norman conquest made no alteration in the English penny, the only coin. William the First, even bears, sometimes, the same reverses with Harold the Usurper, his predecessor. The old English penny, or Anglicus, was a coin celebrated all over Europe in the middle ages. In neatness of fabric, such as then was, and in purity of metal, it is superior even to Italian and French coins of the period." Pinkerton on Medals, Vol. II. p. 66. Old English historians inform us that the lay barons had the privilege of coining. But there are not any coins distinguished by a baronial title, or peculiar mark, although the coins of En glish bishops are frequently seen. North," that no king that ever reigned in England coined in more different places than Canute. Keder gives 26 cities and towns. Whether this proceeded from the pride of the Dane, or was granted to many towns to procure their affection, cannot be determined. The privilege of coining was not quite free and unpaid for." Mr. Gough, who presents the above quotation, adds that the greatest number of coins of Canute extant in any cabinet, was formerly believed to be those enumerated by Keder, amounting to seventy. "In the summer of 1774, however, above three hundred came to light, with many silver fibulæ, in two cowhorns, in a great moss about two miles from Kirkwall, in Orkney. The bulk of them became the property of Thomas Dundas, Esq. of Castlecary; and 42 specimens of the varieties as to place, were engraved in a Catalogue of Coins of Canute, published on that occasion."* The coins of Harold the First, and Hardicanute, are of considerable rarity. Specimens of the coins issued by each of the Anglo-Danish monarchs are engraved in the Saxon tables of Hickes, Gibson, and Gough, already noticed under the head of Anglo-Saxon Coins. It has been observed in a former page,† that the Danes introduced to England the two denominations of money termed the Mark and the Ora; and the relative value of these representa. tives of coin is explained in the same place. In concluding my brief hints towards information concerning the coins of the ancient Britons; the Romans in connexion with Britain; the Anglo-Saxons; and the Anglo-Danes; it is necessary to observe that not any coin bearing the head of a WELSH prince, or which can in any respect be supposed to have issued Article Saxon Coins, Gough's Edition of Camden's Britannia, p. 117. issued from the mint of a prince of that country, is known to be extant.* This is a curious and surprising circumstance, as it would appear from many of their laws that Welsh princes, coeval with the Anglo-Saxon dynasty, did actually coin money. It is observed by Dr. Henry that, "by one of these laws, the coining of money is declared to be one of the four unalienable prerogatives of the kings of Wales; a ridiculous declaration if it was known that no money was ever coined in Wales. The kings of England im posed a certain tribute on the kings of Wales, part of which was to be paid in money; which they never would have done if they had known that these princes had no money of their own. The salaries of the great officers in the courts of the kings of Wales were paid in money; and the prices of all commodities were rated, by the laws of Wales, in money.§ "The smallness of the number of these Welsh coins; the injuries of time, wars and revolutions; and the long subjection of that country to the crown of England; are the true reasons why all these coins have disappeared, though it is not impossible that some of them may yet be discovered." Although such remarks appear to be the best that can be presented, they are certainly far from satisfactory. That money circulated in Wales, at an early period, is evident from the Welsh laws; and it will be an extremely interesting occurrence to the numismatic antiquary, when a coin shall be found, to prove • With this fact collectors are well acquainted. For a remark, proving the justice of such an assertion, see Archæol. Vol. I. p. 282. + History of Britain, 8vo. edit. Vol. IV. p. 283—4. Leges Wallicæ, p. 71. In addition to these remarks of Dr. Henry, it may be observed that "the Welsh laws of Hoel dda use punt, or pund, as one of their terms for money. They have, also, the word ariant, which means literally silver, and ceiniawg; both these seem to imply a penny. See Wotton's Leges Wallica, p. 16, 20, 21, 27. Their word for a coin is bath." Turner's Anglo-Saxons, Vol. Ik p. 135. prove that such money really issued from the mint of a native prince. THE ANGLO-NORMANS. The death of Edward the Confessor, without issue, led to disputes concerning a succession to the English crown, which rendered the country once more an attractive field of enterprize to bold and ambitious neighbours. A powerful prince, equally courageous and aspiring, was close at hand; and he established, by the exercise of the sword, a new and lasting dynasty in another foreign line. As the settlement of the Normans in this island, and the introduction of their influence over manners, arts, and laws, are subjects of great interest with the topographer, it may not be superfluous to remind the reader, in this place, of the origin and previous circumstances of these successful invaders,-the latest contributors to the parent-stock of the present population of England. Shortly after the commencement of the 10th century, Rollo, or Kolfr, a Norwegian chieftain, joined in the invasions to which France was then subject from the ferocious tribes of the north, and conducted his assault with so much bravery and skill that Charles the Simple, who then reigned in France, appeased his hostility by ceding to him a considerable tract of country. The district thus presented as a peace offering to his ambition, consisted of "all the maritime country from the river Andelle, three leagues above Rouen, to the Epte, which passes by Gournay, Gisors and St. Clair; and also the country beyond the Seine. This 'cession comprehended all that country between the sea, Brittany, and the Maine."* Rollo • Turner's Hist, of the Anglo-Saxons, Vol. I. p. 462-3; and the autho rity there quoted. |