Camden says, that "the statues of William, and his sons William and Gilbert, all Marshalls of England, and Earls of Pembroke, are still to be seen in this Temple, cross-legged; as were all who at that time engaged in the Crusades, or as the phrase was, took up the cross:"*"On one of the tombs," he continues, "I have read this inscription, in letters almost effaced, 6 'Comes Penbrochiæ,' and at the side, Miles eram Martis. Mars multos vicerat armis.'”—The first Knight in this group is represented with a leopard at his feet, the head of which is pierced by his sword. The fourth Knight is in a very peculiar, but spirited, attitude, as if trampling upon a dragon; most probably in allegorical reference to the Christian's triumph over Satan.

Another ancient figure, now lying upon a plain tomb on the south side of the chancel, represents Sylvester de Everdon, Bishop of Carlisle, who was interred in this church in 1255: it is pontifically

* Pennant says, that the "being represented cross-legged is not always a proof of the deceased having had the merit of having been a Crusader, or having made a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre. I have seen, at Milton, in Yorkshire, two figures of the Sherbornes thus represented; (one died in 1629, the other in 1689) who I verily believe could never had any more than a wish to enter the Holy Land." "Lordon," p. 167. Numerous other instances could be given of persons being represented cross-legged, who were never in Palestine, nor ever made a vow to go there; and particularly, one of the Carews, (temp. Queen Eliz.) in Exeter Cathedral, in the chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, at the extremity of the north aisle.

mitred and habited, with a crozier on the left arm, and the right hand in the customary attitude of benediction. At the time of the repairs here, in 1811, the tomb was opened, and an entire skeleton was found within a leaden envelope, placed in a stone chest, or coffin, in which was a circular cavity to admit the head. Many pieces of a staff, or crozier, and fragments of garments, were also remaining; but what is most remarkable is, that at the feet of the skeleton were some portions of the skull, and other bones, of a mere infant !-In all ages, an unnecessary and rude violation of the tomb, has been regarded as a species of barbarism, and however antiquarian research may have authorized the opening of Egyptian cemeteries and ancient barrows, for the purpose of gleaning an imperfect knowledge of the arts and customs of remote eras, there is no excuse for raking among the ashes of the dead from sheer motives of impertinent curiosity. In this instance, the reprehensible intruders, forgetful of their own frail mortality, had the very dust in the coffin" carefully sifted," in the expectation of meeting with "an episcopal ring,”*— but without success, and from that, and other circumstances, it was presumed that this sepulchre had been previously violated.

*Vide Jekyll's "Facts and Observations relating to the Temple Church," small folio, 1812. This learned bencher was of opinion (with others) that the above tomb might have been erected for the Patriarch Heraclius, who died at Acre, in 1191; there is not, however, the least valid authority to warrant that supposition.

Besides the monuments already described, there are several others of much interest in this Church, as well as many inscriptions for persons of talent and notoriety; these, as may well be supposed, are chiefly in commemoration of the Lawyers and professional men who have been connected with the Inner and Middle Temples. The more ancient inscriptions are recorded in Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," and many others are inserted in Strype's Stow. One of the last that was placed here, commemorates the late Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who died in 1806, and is represented by a fine Bust in white marble, executed by Rossi. In the north aisle is the recumbent effigy of the learned Plowden, who was treasurer of this Society, in 1572, and died in 1584; this figure has been recently re-painted in the style of former ages.

Against the east wall is an inscription for Anne Littleton, wife of Edward Littleton, of the Inner Temple, Esq. and grand-daughter of Sir Thomas Bromley, Knt. Lord Chancellor; she died in 1623, The following epitaph on this Lady is given by Strype:

Here She lies, whose spotless fame
Invites a stone to learn her name.

The rigid Spartan that deny'd
An Epitaph to all that dy'd
Unless for War or Chastity,
Would here vouchsafe an Elegy.
She dy'd a Wife, but yet her Mind,

Beyond Virginity refin'd,

From lawless fire remain'd as free

As now from heat her ashes be.

Her Husband, yet without a Sin,

Was not a Stranger, but her Kin ;

That her chaste Love might seem none other,
Unto a Husband, than a Brother.

Keep well this Pawn thou Marble Chest,
Till it be call'd for let it rest;

For while this Jewel here is set

The Grave is but a Cabinet.

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS OF THE INNER AND MIDDLE TEMPLES.

At the time of the suppression of the Order of the Knights Templars, in the reign of Edward the Second, the number of Knights in England, Scotland, and Ireland, amounted to about 250. Their possessions in England were seized by the King, who, in the year 1314, granted the TEMPLE in Fleet Street, and its appurtenances, to Aymer, or Audomar de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, by the description of "the whole place and house called the New Temple, at London, and the ground called Fiquet's Croft, and all the tenements and rents, with the appurtenances, that belonged to the Templars in the city and suburbs of London; and the land called Flete Croft, part of the possessions of the said Temple."-About two years afterwards, the King, having otherwise satisfied the claims of the above Earl, re-granted the premises to his uncle, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, on whose attainder they reverted to the crown. In the 17th of the same reign, all the unappropriated estates of the Knights Templars in England were, in compliance with the injunctions of the second Council, assembled