XXXIV PEOCEEDINGS, 



trained yews upon tlie terraces, and the beautifully-kept lawn 

 which extends down to the bank of the Eiver Lea. 



Before leaving the Park by the town entrance the portion of 

 the old Bishop's Palace, now converted into stables, was inspected ; 

 and the thanks of the members were expressed to the Marquis 

 of Salisbury for the privileges he had granted to the Society on 

 this and former occasions, and to the Director of the meeting 

 for obtaining these privileges from his Lordship, and successfully 

 carrying out the arrangements for the most popular and one of 

 the most enjoyable field meetings which the Society had held for 

 many years. 



Field Meeting, 23rd Mat, 1896. 

 COLNET HEATH AND NORTH MIMMS PARK. 



This is the first field meeting in which the bicycle was brought 

 into requisition to any considerable extent. Nearly all the members 

 who attended were from St. Albans, and twenty-five went by train 

 to Smallford Station, while seven cycled direct to the Church ia 

 North Mimms Park. The meeting was under the direction of 

 Mr. T. P. Grosart "Wells, who went with the larger party. 



From Smallford Station the field-path was taken which leads to 

 the little hamlet of Sleepshyde, whence another path was taken, 

 which, after crossing the Biver Colne, here a tiny brook, leads 

 into one of those picturesque disused lanes, grass-grown and over- 

 shadowed by trees, which are so frequent in Hertfordshire. This 

 lane ends at a farmhouse near Colney Heath, and the walk was 

 continued along another path which enters the road very near to 

 North Mimms Park. This route is the most direct between the 

 station and the park, but perhaps not the quickest for such a large 

 party, the numerous stiles which had to be crossed causing a con- 

 siderable delay and not a little memment, especially at the last 

 two, one on either side a hedge and so near together that some of 

 the ladies showed their agility by taking the two at one bound. 



On arriving at St. Mary's Church, in the park, the members 

 were received by the Vicar, the Bev. Gr. S. Batty, and the cyclists 

 were found to have arrived and to have ascended the tower. 



The church is a beautiful structure of pure Decorated character. 

 It contains a few old tombs and an uniisual number of brasses, 

 some of which are very fine. One, dating about the middle of the 

 fifteenth century, represents a man and his wife and their ten 

 children — four sons and six daughters. Near by is a remarkably 

 fine brass to a man and his wife, the costume being that of the 

 reign of Queen Elizabeth. In the vestry the Vicar showed 

 a beautiful chalice of carved amber, mounted with silver-gilt, 

 with eight female figures emblematical of virtues, under canopies, 

 carved on the amber. "It was given," Cussans says, "by Lady 

 Mews, by will, in 1751, to stand upon the altar of the church." 

 It bears the date 1656. Mr. Batty also showed a silver-gilt cup, 

 with cover, of beautiful workmanship, apparently Italian, and 



