210 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. excursion along the site of the Roman wall, extending from Wallsend to the Solway, to take place at the close of the month of June, and invite the attendance of antiquarians from the south. We hope that this inter- esting expedition mil be productive not only of gratification to those who may have the good fortune to participate in it, but excite a more lively interest in the preservation of the numerous Roman remains in that district, and possibly lead to the deposit of the more important of these vestiges, and of private collections, in the ancient fortress of Newcastle, a place worthy to receive such a museum as might readily be formed in the northern borders, and to which the collections of the society have recently, thi'ough the liberal assistance of the Duke of Northumberland, and other donors, been removed. The generous encouragement of His Grace is ever freely afforded to the prosecution of intelligent reseai'ch into the histoiy and antiquities of the northern counties ; and the voice of their patron will, we are assured, not be wanting to stimulate the antiquarians of Newcastle to seize so favourable an occasion for collecting and recording the evidence regarding Roman occupation in the north. How valuable a chapter of an extended " Britannia Romana," so long a desideratum, might be concerted in this interesting pilgrimage. We hope to lay before our readers a report of its results. Cambridge Antiquarian Society, I'eb. 19, 1849. Mr. C. C. Babing- TON called the attention of the society to a singular specimen of fictile manufacture, a small vase, found on the site of the Roman villa at Com- berton, and recently purchased for the society. It is rudely formed of common clay and coated with a red substance resembling a paste formed of pounded " Samian " ware. Professor Corrie read an interesting account of the changes in costume in the university at different periods, and the edicts issued against its excess. March 5. Dr. Thackeray exliibited a cast of one side of the fine seal of Pilton Priory, Devon ; it exhibits three tabernacles ; in the central niche appears King Athelstan, by whom the lordship was given to the Abbey of Malmsbury, of which Pilton was a cell. On the dexter side is a scutcheon charged with a dragon displayed (or an eagle ?) on the sinister side, the supposed bearing of Mercia and Wessex. Legend, — Hoc Athelstanus ago quod presens signat imago. This seal had been erroneously assigned to the monastery of Middleton ; this error is corrected in the last edition of the Monasticon, and an engraving of the seal given (vol, iv., pi. 24) as also in Dr. Oliver's Monasticon Dioc. Exon. p. 245. Mr. Babington exhibited a specimen of the satirical medallions, bearing, on one side, the head of a pope, which, when inverted, presents a diabolic head, surrounded by the words — Ecclesia perversa tenet faciem diaholi. On the reverse are simi- larly shown the heads of a cardinal and a fool, — Sapientes stulti aUquando. It was found at Burwell, and is attached to a tobacco-stopper. A similar medallion is in the society's museum, and the Rev. E. Ventris stated that he was in possession of another. Professor Corrie exhibited a rare volume of sermons from his own library. They were preached in the University by Stephen Baron, last head of the Franciscan Order in Cam- bridge (he died, 1520), and are curious as illustrating the state of the Church and University in temp. Henry VIII. , just previous to the Reformation.
