the portion of an altar frontal of the fifteenth century, some of which are still preserved in our churches, the angel being represented as it would have been in the preceding century, or time of Wycliffe. Having thus expressed my opinion, formed under a very partial examination, I am content to leave this point for the future criticisms of others.

Lastly, as to the portrait. Is that not of Wycliffe, that venerable bearded old man? Alas! I am afraid I must attempt to dissipate all preconceived and cherished notions which have long prevailed respecting it.

Wycliffe, as a priest of the church before the Reformation, was required by the discipline of the church to be close shaven, both as to his chin and his cheeks, and if you examine the brasses and sculptured monumental effigies of the fourteenth century, of priests in this country, which are numerous, you will not find one represented in the manner portrayed by this portrait. Again, the cap, the costume, the gown, the ruff, encircling the wrist, as represented in this portrait, are, together with the long beard, semblances of the costume and appearance of one of the Reformers of the sixteenth century, when the fashion of letting the beard grow among the reformed clergy crept in. This painting is clearly of that period, and the date of it I should fix as somewhere between 1540 and 1570. As to its being a realistic portrait of Wycliffe, or of his age, it certainly is not. It may be an ideal portrait of him in the costume and appearance prevalent in an age at least a century and a half after his death. There is, or was, forty years ago, a portrait somewhat similar to this in the collection of the then Duke of Dorset, at Knole, in Kent, bearing also the name of Wycliffe. Whether it remains there still I know not.

Now I can show you a much more realistic portrait, as to costume and general appearance, than that this painting represents. It exhibits a priest of Wycliffe's time vested for the service of the church, namely, in the alb, stole, maniple, and chasuble. When not so vested his ordinary clerical habit would have been a long cassock, or coat, the toga talaris with a hood, the caputium, attached to it, and hanging down behind.

Is there then no relic of Wycliffe's time? Yes, there was one disposed of lately in London, and I could have wished it had been secured for the Church of Lutterworth. Why we reverence the memory of Wycliffe is not so much on account of his theological opinions, on many of which grave differences might arise, but from his translation of the Holy Scriptures, or at least portions of them, into the vernacular, the language of Chaucer and of the author of Piers Plowman.

Now in the late sad dispersion, which ought never to have taken place, of the library of Archbishop Tennison, on the first of July last, amongst the MSS. was one of the fourteenth century, con

taining portions of certain books of the Old Testament translated by John Wycliffe, whether in his monograph, which 1 think not unlikely, or simply a transcript made in his time, I cannot say. It was a small folio volume, and, though fragmental, was purchased in public competition by a well-known London bookseller, Mr. Lilly, for £150.

I have now trespassed upon your patience more than I ought to have done, and my remarks may not have been so palatable as I could have wished: but it is the province of the antiquary (6 to search out truth," whether "in academic groves," or amid objects of long cherished interest presented to his notice.

At the conclusion of Mr. Bloxam's paper, the chairman invited discussion upon its contents There was an apparent reluctance on the part of some of the audience to give up their long-cherished faith in the "Relics" of Wycliffe, yet no champion appeared to take up the glove thrown down by the learned lecturer; one gentleman, however, created much amusement, by enquiring whether, after demolishing all they had for so long connected with Wycliffe, Mr. Bloxam would kindly inform him whether in his opinion the Reformer had ever existed, or had been in Lutterworth?

Mr. BLOXAM replied he believed Wycliffe's name would be found on the episcopal register of the period as priest of Lutterworth. The PRESIDENT then requested the REV. CANON JAMES to read his paper upon

THE BATTLE OF NASEBY.

A LARGE plan of the ground, and of the position of the troops on both sides, was suspended behind the reverend gentleman to illustrate his paper He proceeded at length to describe the progress of the battle in a lucid, popular, and interesting address, intermingling what he read with extemporaneous explanations, and was listened to with great and unbroken interest to the conclusion. All the spots identified with the incidents of the battle were mentioned, the associations connected with them detailed, and the lesson to be derived from a contemplation of the causes and the effects of the great struggle then carried on, were pointed out with much force and perspicuity.

The REV. H. K. RICHARDSON proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Bloxam and Canon James for the reading of their papers. The depth of thought and amount of learning required in the production of these papers, he said, was not to be conceived, except by any person who had been engaged in similar labour. He felt reluctance to admit that the relics said to be those of Wycliffe were not genuine, but to use an ancient axiom-the truth must prevail. Mr. Richardson, after further observations, concluded by proposing the resolution.

MR. JAMES THOMPSON said with regard to the portraits with the beard, it was evident that there was only a "hair's breadth" of difference between Mr. Bloxam and himself, but he feared that was fatal to the genuineness of the portraits. He had been alike interested and mortified; for he had felt himself deprived of all his cherished beliefs in the Wycliffe relics, one by one, and came to the conclusion that he had not a leg to stand upon. But he felt that there was a higher pleasure in obtaining the truth; and archæology was here of essential service in correcting mistakes and in even setting the historian right. After adverting to the variety, value, and interest of the articles laid on the tables, and the rubbings and drawings fixed on the walls, Mr. Thompson said he most cordially seconded the vote of thanks to the gentlemen who bad favoured them with two very interesting and instructive papers.

The REV. J. H. HILL then proposed, and the Rev. J. M. Lakin seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman; which that gentleman acknowledged.

Mr. NORTH (Secretary), said it was always desirable upon occasions like that to avoid the scattering about of too many compliments, but they must not disperse without allowing him in the name of the Society to thank the chairman and the good people of Lutterworth and its neighbourhood for their very hearty welcome, and the hospitable reception they had given to the Society, upon that its first visit to their town. The museum collected within those walls was one of great interest and value, and reflected the highest credit upon all concerned in its formation; its inspection had afforded the greatest pleasure to the numerous visitors. It had been the Society's good fortune to add several names to their list of members that day, and he trusted that upon their second visit to Lutterworth, which he hoped was not very distant, they would be again welcomed by the very many who had shown themselves to be their friends, but who would ere then have become members of the Society.

The meeting broke up about ten o'clock.

THE EXCURSION.

AT ten o'clock the following morning two coaches, with four horses in each, and several other vehicles were at the door of the Denbigh Arms Hotel, to convey the members and their friends to the various places named in the published time and excursion table of the Society. The quiet town of Lutterworth was all alert, and the sight of these reminders of the days when railways were unknown, and the coachman and guard were in all their glory of scarlet coat VOL. II.

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and ringing horn, coupled with a glorious sun overhead, and a breeze fresh and invigorating, prepared all for the enjoyment of a day, the successful carrying out of the programme of which depended entirely upon that most fickle of all mistresses, the weather. That, however, was most propitious, and as the large party, numbering between sixty and seventy ladies and gentlemen, crossed the river Swift, on their way to Cave's Inn-the Roman Tripontium-many were the congratulations upon that most important, and always much talked of, subject.

Upon the arrival of the party at

CAVE'S INN,

MR. BLOXAM remarked that he differed from many most able authorities in his opinion as to the ancient Roman station, Tripontium; he believed, for reasons which he was not then prepared to enter into, even did time permit, that Cave's Inn was the site of that station, and not, as was generally thought, Lilbourne. He might shortly through the public press, give the reasons which he thought strong enough in warranting him in coming to that conclusion.

LILBOURNE

was the next halting place named in the time table; after a hasty inspection of the church, Mr. Bloxam led the way to the high mounds of earth close by, which he stated had generally been supposed to be in some way connected with the Roman station, Tripontium; indeed, Stukely, Burton, and others had stated Lilbourne to be the locality of that station, but Mr. Bloxam, as just stated, hopes to show that Cave's Inn is the real site. The mounds close by the church, he stated to be marks not of British or Roman occupation, but the proofs of the existence of a mediæval castle. The word Tripontium he stated to be a compound word, partly British and partly Latin, signifying the Town by the Bridge. A drive of three miles brought the excursionists to

STANFORD CHURCH,

where they were welcomed by the venerable rector, who had hospitably provided wine, &c., for those who would avail themselves of his invitation. All were much pleased too, to meet the Rev. G. A. Poole, of Welford, who gave much valuable information respecting the church, and the very beautiful and interesting stained glass therein preserved. The following is an abstract of his remarks:

The history of the Church of S. Nicholas, Stanford, is extremely simple; for the whole is of one style, and so nearly of the same

character, that it would be difficult, merely from architectural characteristics, to say which are the earliest portions. Moreover, at the time to which the church must be referred (that is the first half, or to speak more exactly, the second quarter of the fourteenth century), this lordship, as well as the advowson of Stanford, was in the possession of the Abbey of Selby: so that we are not led to look for indications that any particular portions of the church are to be assigned to any person out of the abbey. There is, however, a tomb with a recumbent figure, under a recessed arch in the south aisle, which probably indicates the resting place of the founder of a chantry in that aisle. There is nothing elsewhere to lead to a doubt that the abbey was at the whole charges of the erection of the church. But, however this may be, it is certainly one of the most pleasing examples of the decorated style, without being remarkably rich, that we have in the neighbourhood. The interior is especially good in effect, chiefly perhaps from the slenderness of the piers, which are without capitals, the chamfers of the arches being continuous from the point of the arches to the ground: a character particularly adopted in the succeeding or perpendicular style. The font is coeval with the church. The miserable reredos shutting out half of the east window, and the fittings in the chancel generally, ought to be destroyed. The rood-screen, and a little piece of screen-work across the tower arch, were brought, not many years ago, from Lutterworth. The pulpit cloth is of crimson velvet, richly embroidered with white silk, and has a curious history. It was worked by Lady Rowe, and presented to this church in thankful commemoration of the escape of herself and her husband, Sir Thomas Rowe, from a storm at sea, on their return from Turkey, from whence they precipitately fled to avoid the Sultan's advances to Lady Rowe. The monuments consist of a very perfect series commemorative of the Caves, from Sir Thomas, who purchased the lordship and advowson off Henry VIII. at the suppression of abbeys, to the late Otway Cave, Esq., M.P., son of Lady Braye, the present owner. But by far the most interesting object in the church is the painted glass, the greater part of it coeval with the fabric, but presenting specimens in Perpendicular also, and Cinquecento with a number of armorial devices, down to a comparatively recent date. Of the decorated or original glass the most ancient is that in the head of the east window, which is assigned to the reign of Edward II., or the beginning of the next reign, by the several shields of arms. There are, 1. England, with a label, probably for Edward III. when Prince of Wales. 2. France, and 3. England; France and England being both borne by the King of England. 4. England, with a label for Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, half-brother of Edward II. Beneath this are 5. the arms of Wake, for Thomas, Lord Wake. 6. Warren, probably for Plantagenet, Earl of Surrey. 7. Bohun, Earl of Hereford.