procession, on the anniversary of the saint's day and on other grand celebrations. Some of the principal shrines now remaining (although divested of their feretories, and more solid treasures) are those of Edward the Confessor, at Westminster; Bishop Cantilupe, at Hereford; of St. David, (now ruinous) in the cathedral of St. David's; of St. Werburgh, (mutilated) at Chester; and of St. Frides wide, at Oxford. These are costly monuments of stone, with the exception of St. Frideswide's, the material of which is wood. The portable part of the shrine was, indeed, often enclosed by an encasement of wood; as in the instance of Becket's shrine at Canterbury, where we are told "the wooden case, being drawn up by cords, discovered one of gold, whose riches were inestimable. Gold was the least valuable article amid the display and lustre of rare jewels; some of so large dimensions as to exceed a goose's egg. The modes of revealing the shrine of a saint, and of receiving >offerings on ordinary occasions, are shewn in the following passage respecting the shrine of St. Cuthbert, at Durham."Among made of wood, and covered with enamelled plates of metal of various, and small proportions, and containing a single relique of a particular saint, or various reliques of different ones."-These latter shrines may, with propriety, be denominated reliquaries; and were generally placed round the upper and high altar of the church to which they appertained. One of these, formerly in the possession of Mr. Astle, is engraved in the Vetusta Monu mentu. Sepulchral Mons. Vol. II. Introduction, p. 183-4. We may readily suppose that the gems, and other valuables, appertaining to shrines, were greatly over-rated by ordinary observers. Dart, describing the shrine of Edward the Confessor, observes that "over the stone work is a frame of wainscot, said in times past to have been curiously plated with gold, and adorned with precious stones; the frame is very neat and regular, but seems never to have been covered; and as for the jewels that adorned it, they are still there; for, on the pilasters between the arches, is a kind of mosaic work of stained glass, a customary ornament at that time." Dart's History of St. Peter's Westminster, Vol. II. p. 24. "Among the officers of the church were a master and keeper of the feretory, who was also vice prior; and when any men of honour or worship were disposed to offer their petitions to God and St. Cuthbert, or to offer at his shrine, if they requested to have it drawn, or to see it, the clerk of the feretory gave notice to his master, who brought the keys of the shrine, giving them to his clerk to open it; his office was to stand by and see it drawn. It was always drawn up in mattins time, when Te Deum was singing; or in high mass time, or at evening song, when Magnificat was sung; and when they had made their prayers, and did offer any thing, if it were gold, silver, or jewels, it was instantly hung on the shrine; and if it was any other thing, as a unicorn's horn, elephant's tooth, or such like, it was hung within the feretory, at the end of the shrine; and, when their prayers were ended, the clerk let down the cover thereof, and locked it at every corner, returning the keys to the vice prior."" It is said by Dart, "that the customs in enshrining were very different. Sometimes the coffin was placed level with the surface of the earth; sometimes upon it; and sometimes IN ALTUM. The first was for men of exemplary piety, who had suffered no more for religion than what self-denial, self-imposed severities and abstinence required; the other for men of more early example, and was first a custom, as in the case of Cuthbert before he was sainted, and others, but afterwards grew a favour to saints of the second rank; the elevated body was usually for such who had suffered martyrdom for religion.' It must, however, be observed that no ancient authorities are given for the above assertions. It is found impracticable to present in these pages such an examination of the fashions prevailing at different periods, in regard to armour and attire, as might assist the topographer in researches Rites of Durham, p. 117, 118, &c. researches amongst the sepulchral monuments of England and Wales. This is to be regretted, as the figures on such monuments may be deemed, for several ages previous to the familiar use of the art of painting, the historical portraits of our ancestry; and are, as such, the clear, though unintended, chronicles of the modes of dress prevailing at their respective dates. An attempt towards the performance of such a task would be useless and contemptible, if not full at every point. Restrained, by the unavoidable limits of the work, from presenting comprehensive and satisfactory remarks on this subject, it is the duty of the writer (as the best substitute for detailed intelligence) to remind the reader of the places in which the desired information may be obtained. The principal annalists of Great Britain were merely the chroniclers of battles, the registrars of royal births and deaths, and the investigators of political intrigue, until Dr. Henry arose, to shew that the people, and the progress of arts, customs, and manners, were entitled to a large share of the historian's notice. In the judicious "History of Great Britain," written by Dr. Henry, are presented some remarks on the modes of dress prevailing amongst the inhabitants of this island, from the earliest period to the latest on which he treats. His dissertations are well-adapted to the purpose of general history, but are not sufficiently precise and minute for the gratification of the antiquarian reader. The observations of Mr. Granger, in his "Biographical history of England," are still less satisfactory: a deficiency which is almost reprehensible, when his numerous opportunities of intelligence are duly considered. Mr. Strutt affords some judicious, but limited remarks.* Sepul Each of these writers preceded Mr. Gough; and all are reudered of secondary importance by his great work on chral Monuments." In the magnitude of such an undertaking In works noticed in the List of Books appended to these pages. many many errors must necessarily occur; but, for a rich fund of information concerning all the varieties of regal ornaments, and those appertaining to the nobility; armour, and knightly appendages; fashions in apparel, and the numerous circumstances relating to dress, as exhibited in monumental sculpture; the reader is referred, with confidence, to the introductory discourses prefixed to the first and second volumes of Mr. Gough's valuable publication. Detailed examples of each custom, there stated in general terms, are afforded by the monuments illustrated and described in the body of the work. In concluding these ANTIQUARIAN SKETCHES, it would appear that the writer cannot do better than to apply to each section the tenour of the preceding paragraphs. He has endeavoured to compress within determinate limits as much information as was attainable; and where the subject under discussion required more extended or minute remarks, he has availed himself of the research connected with his labours, to direct the attention of the reader to more elaborate and fertile sources of intelligence. END OF THE INTRODUCTION. OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKS WHICH TREAT ON THE TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES OF ENGLAND COLLECTIVELY; and of WORKS ILLUSTRATING THE PROGRESS OF THE ARTS MOST IMPORTANT IN TOPOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES, AND OTHERWISE AFFORDING MATERIALS TO THE LOCAL HISTORIAN. Lists of such Books as are illustrative of the History and Antiquities "of WALES in general," are appended to the 17th and 18th volumes of this work. CATALOGUES OF TOPOGRAPHY. THE ENGLISH Topographer; or, An Historical Account (as far as can be collected from printed Books and Manuscripts) of all the Pieces that have been written relating to the Antiquities, Natural History, or Topographical Description of any Part of England. Alphabetically digested, and illustrated with the Draughts of seve ral very curious old Seals, exactly engraven from their respective Originals. By an impartial Hand. Dr. RAWLINSON.) Octavo. Lond. 1720. Bibliotheca Topographica Anglicana: A Catalogue of Books on English Topography, by Jo. WORRALL. Duodecimo. Lond. 1736. British Topography: or an Historical Account of what has been done for illustrating the Topographical Antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland. In Two Volumes. By RICHARD GOUGH, Esq. With Plates, Quarto. Lond. 1780. Catalogue of the Books relating to British Topography, and Saxon and Northern Literature, bequeathed to the Bodleian Library in the Year 1799, by RICHARD GOUGH, Esq. F. S. A. Quarto. Oxford, 1814. Catalogue of Books relating to the History and Topography of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. By Sir RICHARD COLT HOARE, Bart. Compiled from his Library at Stourhead, Wiltshire. Octavo. London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. 1815. *The impression of this valuable work is restricted to Twenty-five. A Bibliographical Account of the Principal Works relating to English Topography, (being a complete collation of each volume: stating the quantity of Letter Press, Lists of the Plates and of such Pedigrees as are not incorporated in the Letter press, and intended as a guide to Collectors of Works on the Antiquities and Local History of England.) By WIlliam Upcott, of the London Institution. In Three Volumes. Octavo. Lond. 1818. Lives of Topographers and Antiquaries who have written concerning the Antiquities of England, with (Twenty-six) Portraits of the Authors, and a complete List of their Works, so far as they relate to the Topography of this Kingdom; together with a List of Portraits, |