viii Jon/mai of Proceedings^ 



of Greek, Koman and English coins ; a large selection from his collection 

 of fossils ranging from the Silurian to the Newer Pliocene formations ; and 

 a very massive microscope, made many years ago by Powell and Lealand, 

 and presumed to be one of the two largest instruments in existence. 

 The Rev. J. Francis showed some reHcs belonging to the Abbey, discovered 

 at the time of its restoration in 1860 ; Dr. Priest some skulls and bones of 

 Deer, Bison, &c., found, while digging the foundations of the New Powder 

 Mills, in the peat-beds which extend over most of the marshes near the 

 town ; they were exhumed from the depth of ten or twelve feet, a number 

 of other bones and horns of Deer, &c., being found at the same time, which, 

 are now in the British Museum ; also a flint axe, and various drawings 

 and engravings of the Abbey. Mr. Winters, F.R.H.S., brought up a 

 copy of the foundation charter of the Church of Waltham, dated 1062, 

 containing names of lordships and witnesses to the grant ; a representation 

 of the great east window of the parish Church of St. Margaret's in West- 

 minster, which window was removed from Waltham Abbey at the time of 

 the dissolution ; autograph of Dr. T. Fuller, author of ' Church History ' 

 and ' History of Waltham Abbey,' who was a Vicar of the i^lace ; fac- 

 simile of the Domesday Book, and deeds relating to Waltham. Mr. 

 Fisher Unwin exhibited a large number of interesting plates and drawings 

 of Waltham Abbey and the Eleanor Cross at Waltham Cross, and some 

 old county histories ; Mr. Walter Crouch a series of jjrints illustrating 

 the architectural details of the Abbey, and the ancient market stocks ; 

 Mr. Corder some flint implements found near Chelmsford. Other objects 

 were shown, and, all being carefully labelled and explained by Dr. Priest 

 and Mr. Wakefield, the whole formed a very interesting collection. 



The members and major portion of the visitors sat down to "high tea" 

 at the " Cock Inn," excellently served by Mr. and Mrs. Giles. After tea 

 a meeting was held in the "temporary Museum," the President occupying 

 the chair. He expressed his pleasure in bidding welcome, on the part of 

 the Council, to those present at that their first Field Meeting of the 

 season, and hoped it would be the first of a series of equally successful 

 meetings and a good omen of the future (Applause). The Chairman then 

 introduced Mr. Birch, who gave some further details concerning the 

 Abbey Church, commencing his paper by observing that, in the present 

 age, facts which had been believed in for generations were subjected to 

 searching criticism, to discover flaws and to raise doubts. It was not his 

 intention to raise any doubts then. He would ask them to accept as a 

 fact that Harold really lived and was buried at Waltham Abbey, and by 

 thus begging the question he would dispose of a quantity of matter with 

 which they had little to do in describing the building in question, which 

 was anciently known to pious worshippers as the Church of the Holy 

 Cross at Waltham. Harold was not the real founder of this famous 

 Abbey. To discover who that founder was, we must transport ourselves 

 to a good half century previous to Harold's time. About the year 1000 

 there was a great religious enthusiasm. That year was devoutly 



