16 REPORT OF 



midland counties, bearing the arms of Sheldon and the date 

 1588, originally put up at Weston in Warwickshire, and 

 afterwards in the house of Earl Harcourt in Oxfordshire. ^ 



To the cabinet of Coins there have been added a considerable 

 number of pennies from different mints of Henry III. of 

 England, and two of William I. of Scotland, found during the 

 recent excavations within the choir of York Minster, which 

 have disclosed remains of the ecclesiastical architecture of 

 three eras anterior to that of the present choir. With these 

 were presented 2 a Roman coin of Constantino, and some frag- 

 ments of Roman pottery, dug up between the walls of that 

 portion of these remains which appears to have been a Saxon 

 church. A stone coffin with its contents, from the gravel-pits 

 in Heslington-field, exhibiting an unusual mode of sepulture, 

 has been presented by Major Yarburgh. The body had been 

 imbedded in plaster, which retains the impression of it ; and 

 in the plaster were found strings of beads, and ornaments of 

 jet and amber, similar to those observed in the ancient tumuli 

 which have been opened on the Wolds. 



But the most valuable acquisition which has been added 

 to the antiquarian objects of the Institution, it owes to the 

 liberality of the Corporation of York. The Society has been 

 permitted to excavate on the site of the multangular tower 

 and by the side of the adjoining wall which has always been 

 considered the most ancient part of the fortifications of York : 

 in the course of the work indubitable evidence was discovered 

 of the Roman origin of those remains, and additional portions of 

 them were exposed. These, in consequence of a memorial from 

 the Council, have since been put into the possession of the 

 Society ; and thus, through the favour of the Corporate body, 



' Presented by the Archbishop of York. 

 * By the Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt. 



