Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/330

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198
PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF

used by the Komans for the discipline of the slaves or other occasions, were dreadful instruments. Horace speaks of the " JiorrihUe flar/ellum" ; they were armed with hones (astragali), indented circles of bronze (possibly similar to that represented, p. 181), or terminated by hooks. They were also used in gladiatorial contests, and in the worship of Cybele. In default of other evidence, it appears not improbable that the well- compacted scourge found at Chesterford may be regarded as a vestige of domestic discipline inflicted by the luxurious colonists who erected the villas there brought to light by Mr. Neville.' Portion of a lock, from the same place, with parts of a lock of similar construction from a villa at Foxcote, Bucks. A whetstone, found in the Roman remains at Ickleton. Five knife-handles, of various design, carved in bone, one representing Hercules leaning upon his club, found at Chesterford. Mr. Neville also exhibited a fine bronze sword, fouud in the bed of the Thames, near Coway Stakes, 1838, and a celt of unusually large size, formed of touch-stone, found at a depth of 6 feet, in a bog in the co. Sligo. By Mr. WEs-nvooD. — A drawing of a remarkable enamelled fibula, preserved in the Museum in the Water Tower, at Chester. It was found November 25, 1840, in a field near that city, on the Park Gate-road, belonging to Mr. Hinckes, of Chester, The representation here given is of the same size as the original. The square and triangular compart- ments are chiefly filled in with yellow and red enamel, and the circular ones with pale green. The central circle is filled in with pale yellow in the middle, the next band red, the outer one dark green. The underside of this curious ornament is flat. By Mr. Majendie, of Hedingham Castle. — An impression of the beautiful matrix of the seal of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, stated to have been found on or near the village green at Cavendish, Suffolk, many years since, shortly after a crowd had passed during some riotous commotion. It did not appear to have been buried in the earth. An engraving of this fine seal was given by Shaw from an imperfect impres- sion appended to a deed, dated 1384.* The singular discovery of the matrix was communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Almack in 1839, and a more full account, with a representation of the seal, is given in the " Gentleman's Magazine," August, 1848.^ This valuable example of the work of the fourteenth century is now in the possession of Rev. Thomas Castley, rector of Cavendish. It represents St. Chad, in full pontificals, and above appears the Virgin with the Infant Jesus. Inscrip- tion— ►$< S'DE(^ANI ET CAPLT ECCLTE SCE MARIE ET S'CI CEDDE LYCHEFELD' AD CK'S [or ad causasecclesiasticas). On the left side of the Virgin appear the crescent and flaming star, or sun. 7 This curious chain may possibly have been d'Antiqu., pi. cccxxx. attached to .a lamp, or to the seal ajjperided " History of Staffordshire, vol. i., pi. xxix. to a stilyard. Compare Mongez, Rccueil '•* Archaeologia, vol. xxx., p. 134.