And for the true performance thereof he bindeth himself, his Executors and Administrators, unto the said Chamberlain and his successors Chamberlains of the said City for the time being in the Sum of Four thousand Pounds. IN WITNESS whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the Day and year first above written.

With a seal of arms, Vert, a chevron between three rams; the shield suspended by a ribbon.

Indorsed, Sealed and Delivered (being first duly stampt) in the

presence of

(Signed)

JOHN GURR.
RICHARD WEAVER.

Mr. ALMACK also exhibited an impression from an engraved copper-plate headed LIBERTY, and entitled "A Congratulatory Epistle from Britannia to I. Wilkes, Esq." It is partly expressed in hieroglyphics, and afforded considerable amusement.

Mr. F. W. FAIRHOLT, F.S.A., read a paper' "On the History of the Giants in Guildhall," tracing their origin to the old legendary Chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth, in which we are told that Britain was first peopled by the daughters of the Emperor Diocletian, and that Brutus of Troy, sailing northward, conquered the giants who then inhabited Albion, and founded London, which he called New Troy, 1008 years before the birth of Christ. These fabulous stories formed a part of the serious History of England in early times, and were entered in the "Liber Albus" and other records, and even advanced in memorials to our kings, as an evidence "of the great antiquity of London, even before Rome." In the pageants of the mayors, as well as those exhibited in the advent of our sovereigns, these giants were displayed; they stood on London Bridge when Philip and Mary entered London, and at Temple Bar when Queen Elizabeth passed through London to her coronation. Such figures, however, were made of wicker; the present ones were solidly carved in wood, in the year 1707. They were known as Gogmagog, a Briton, and Corineus, a Roman; the former name being now split in two, and doing duty for both.

Mr. Fairholt then traced the resemblance of these gigantic figures to those displayed by the guilds of the Continent. Giants are still common in the public processions of Antwerp, Malines, Brussels, Ath, Mons, &c. The most remarkable of all, the giant of Antwerp, is so enormous, that, though a seated figure, it could only be accommodated in a building as high as our Guildhall. The fabulous histories of these old continental cities,

* This paper has since been enlarged by its author, and published under the title of "Gog and Magog; the Giants in Guildhall; their real and legendary history. With an account of other Civic Giants, at home and abroad. 1859." 12mo. (J. C. Hotten, Piccadilly.)

particularly as regards giants, are similar to that of London; but it is remarkable that they still proudly dwell on them, while we have forgotten ours. It was thus with all ancient nations-the Greeks and Romans had their godlike ancestry, the Northern tribes their gigantic ones.

Mr. JOHN WHICHCORD, F.S.A., read a memoir on the Church of St. Mary Aldermary, which will be found at page 259.

Mr. Deputy LOTT, F.S.A., read a paper on the Church of St. Mary-leBow. There have been successively three Churches in or near this spot. Stowe gives no description of the architecture of the church, as standing in his time, except that it was built on arches of stone, and was therefore called Sancta Maria de Arcubus, or Le Bow. These arches, no doubt, form the existing crypt, and gave the name to the Court of Arches, formerly held in this church. In Aggas', Wyngrade's, and other maps, we have attempts at depicting the elevation of the church, but so rude that they are little to be depended upon. They show, however, that the northern extremity of the church did not reach Cheapside, and that the steeple was at its south-west angle. For the steeple we have an authentic record in an ancient silver seal, which was dug up in the ruins of the old church after

RIA SUE ARCVBVS LONDIN

the Fire of 1666, and which is still recognised as the parish seal; it has this inscription Sigillum Ecclesiæ Beata Maria de Arcubus Londini, 1580. and represents the upper portion of a square tower, the lower part containing a clock-face, above it a Gothic window, an ornamental cornice embattled, and at each of the four angles is a lantern, from which spring flying buttresses, of slender proportion, supporting a fifth lantern, and the whole presenting a very quaint appearance, and probably originating the beautiful designs of the steeples of Newcastleupon-Tyne, Feversham, and the more modern construction of Sir Christopher Wren at St. Dunstan's in the East. The steeple also appears, with its five lanterns, in Hollar's bird's-eye view of London.

The Norman crypt, which remains under the basement of the present building, is one of the most perfect relics of ancient London now in existence. It was carefully described in 1828, by Mr. George Gwilt, F.S.A., in a memoir presented to the Society of Antiquaries, and published, with seven plates, in the fifth volume of the Vetusta Monumenta. Great credit is due to Mr. Gwilt for his restoration of this crypt.

The present church, by Sir Christopher Wren, was begun in 1673, and

cost 8,0717. 188. 1d.; the steeple, begun in 1671, and finished in 1680, at the expense of 7,3881. 88. 74d. It has been stated that the first design for this steeple was less ornamental than the present, and was, on its rejection, adopted for St. Magnus Church. St. Leonard's Shoreditch is a meagre imitation of Bow.

Sir Christopher Wren proposed to erect a piazza on the north side of the church, as may be seen by a model and plan in the vestry. The excellent engraving of Mr. Christopher, the architect, is the best illustration of the steeple extant. A medal was offered by the Royal Academy for the best drawing of this steeple, and that gentleman gained the prize.

A beautiful model of the steeple, in the vestry-room, was bequeathed to the parish by William Lyford, of Arundel-street. It forms an escritoire, and contains several books-also some coins, presented by Mr. Lott.

A whimsical prophecy was extant, that when the dragon of Bow and the grasshopper of the Royal Exchange met together some great calamity would ensue; and it was stated they did so at the repairs of 1818, the Royal Exchange being at the same time under repair. But they never met together: the Bow dragon reposed in the vestry during the repair of the steeple, was there regilt, and never quitted it until, with a man on its back, it soared up into its aerial position. It measures 8ft. 8in. from the mouth to the tail.

Bow bells have always been celebrated, even to a proverb, though, I fear, they never charmed Dick Whittington. They are mentioned as early as 1469, in which year an order of Common Council directed them to be rung at 9 P.M. nightly. The present belfry was originally prepared for twelve bells, but only eight were at first placed in it. The tenor bell, being cracked, was recast in 1738; and in 1758 the seven other bells were recast, and two trebles added by subscription. They were first rung on June 4, 1762, the anniversary of the King's birthday. Mr. Tyssen has kindly presented me with the inscription on the tenor bell, which is as follows:

"Bow Bell 1669. Samuel Lisle D.D. Rector. Rob'. Green, Wm.

Tho: Paris: Jno. Waldron-Jno: Rainford: Church Wardens: Recast 1738. Richard Phelps: Thos. Lester Londini Fecit."

This bell is of 65 inches diameter, 49 inches high, 115 inches circumference of crown, 124 inches circumference of waist, 4 inches thickness of sound bow. The weight cut on the bell, 53cwt. and 24lb.

The bells, for melodious tones, exceed any in the kingdom. The tenor bell is peculiarly beautiful, producing a grand, solemn, swelling, mellow, note, and comes out in striking contrast with the harsh notes of the great bell of St. Paul's. The tenor of York Minster is the only tenor of a peal of equal weight in the kingdom. The tenor first cast for the Royal Exchange was of the same note and weight, but has been removed, and a bell of lesser weight substituted.

Several additional members were then elected; among whom were the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Frederick Woodthorpe the Town Clerk; and votes of thanks were unanimously passed to the gentlemen who had contributed papers.

After visiting the various portions of Guildhall, and inspecting the records laid out in the muniment room, the company proceeded to the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, where they availed themselves of the opportunity of examining the Norman crypt, which is threatened to be in part concealed from future view by the sanitary measures now in progress. From thence they proceeded to the church of St. Mary Aldermary, where the parish registers and other documents were placed on the table of the vestry-room. The peculiar features of the edifice were pointed out by Mr. Whichcord.

The proceedings of the day terminated with a dinner at the Anchor, Cheapside, at which about sixty of the members and their friends sat down (including several ladies), the chair being taken by J. R. D. Tyssen, Esq. F.S.A.

EIGHTEENTH GENERAL MEETING,

Held in the Speech Room of the School, at Harrow-on-the-Hill, on Thursday, October 6th, 1859.

The REV. J. W. CUNNINGHAM, Vicar of Harrow, in the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in his opening address, highly extolled the objects of the Society, and said that he prided himself on at once responding to the call of the Society in its earlier stages, and enrolling himself among its first Members and Founders.

The Rev. THOMAS HUGO, F.S.A., read a paper on the history of Harrow, of which the following is a sketch :

"From very early times the manor was the property of the church of Canterbury. When it first became so is unknown, but Kenulf king of Mercia took it from that church some time previous to the year 822, when, at the famous Council of Clovesho, Wilfred the archbishop recovered it with several others which had been similarly alienated. Wherhard, presbyter, who is described as "prepotens in Anglia," completed, according to the account in the "Decem Scriptores," the archbishop's good work, and in the year 830 entirely reinstated the monks in the domain of which they had been long and unjustly deprived. The Domesday record gives us the extent of the manor, asserting that it was taxed at 100 hides, and the whole, which was valued in the time of the Confessor at £60, was then estimated at £56. Its name is there given as "Herges."

"We know little or nothing of the subsequent history of the place until

the year 1324, when William de Bosco, at that time rector, founded a chantry in the church. The name of Edward de Derham occurs previously, being appointed rector by S. Edmund the archbishop, who died in Dec. 1242. William de Bosco, however, is more conspicuously worthy of mention, on account of his munificent foundation just alluded to. The particulars of it are to be seen among the "Inquisitiones ad Quod Damnum," of the 17th of Edward II., and in the Patent Roll of the same year. The chantry, it thus appears, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and was endowed with 101 acres of arable, and five-and-a-half of meadow land, besides rents to the value of 4s. 44d. The duties of the chantry priest or chaplain were to say mass daily for the archbishop of Canterbury, the rector, and all other priests at Harrow, and all the parishioners, whether living or dead.

"In the year 1398, we have an incidental account of the place in an inquisition of the estates of archbishop Arundel, condemned for high treason, and banished from the realm. Three manors are enumerated among his possessions-Southbury, in Harrow, with the advowson of the church, Woodhall, and Heggeton. All these manors were exchanged in 1543 by Archbishop Cranmer with Henry VIII. for other lands, and were given by Henry, in 1546, to Sir Edward subsequently Lord North, and continued in his family until 1630.

"One of the most interesting episodes in the history of Harrow is that connected with its manor-house. It was in the year 1170 that Becket, willing perhaps to avert the impending storm, made a journey towards Woodstock, where the young King Henry II. then held his court. On his way he was met by the royal messengers, peremptorily forbidding his visit, and commanding him to return to his church. This ungracious mandate he thought proper to obey; for, says the chronicler, his hour was not yet come.' He, therefore, spent some days at his manor of Harwes, and was there on the festival of O Sapientia, the 16th of December, spending his brief season of repose as if no care or anxiety had ever molested him. The abbot of St. Alban's supplied him with the best that his House afforded; and the Archbishop returned his thanks in right courtly style,- Accipio ejus præsentias; mallem tamen præsentiam.' The abbot himself was not far off, and the archbishop went to his gate to receive and welcome his guest. After some hours of pleasant intercourse he prevailed upon the abbot to go to Woodstock and endeavour by his pathetic eloquence, of which, as it appears, he was an acknowledged master, to effect a reconciliation. This overture was met on the King's part with haughtiness and anger, and the abbot returned to the Archbishop with the mortifying tidings that all hope of the adjustment of their differences was futile and vain. The Archbishop replied in words not understood at the moment of their utterance, but shortly afterwards imagined to possess a prophetic character, and warmly thanked his defender for the trouble expended in his behalf, though it had resulted in no practical advantage. With a bitterness of heart, and