180 Notes on Archceology . 



Oak-teee Coffin at Christian Malford. 



The walls of the south porch of Christian Malford Church having for some 

 time shown signs of settlement, they have lately been underpinned and repaired. 

 During this process a curious coffin made from the hollowed-out trunlc of an 

 oak tree was found under the foundations, which were of large boulder stones, 

 at a depth of about 4ft. Fragments were found of thinner board, with which 

 the coffin appeared to have been lined [P]. The coffin, presumably of great 

 age, was crushed by the pressure of the walls over it, and was broken to 

 pieces in the digging out the new foundations. The porch is of 15th century 

 date. 



E. C. Teepplin. 



Recovery o? an Ancient Brass at Salisbury. 



A small " brass," or rather copper plate, has recently been placed on the 

 north wall in the inside of the tower of St. Edmund's Church, near the door 

 leading to the belfry, which deserves to be mentioned. It appears to have 

 once been inserted in stone, and was probably taken from a vault beneath St. 

 Edmund's Church where lie the remains of Henry Dove, formerly Mayor of 

 Salisbury. It had come into the possession of a person living near Andover, 

 who informed Dr. H. P. Blackmore, Hon. Director of the Blackmore Museum, 

 of it. Dr. Blackmore informed the Rector of St. Edmund's, the Kev. J. D. 

 Morrice, and through his liberality it was purchased and replaced in the Church. 



The copper plate measures 9in. by 7in. ; it appears to have been originally 

 gilded, and has engraved upon it the arms of the City of New Sarum, 

 surmounted by a dove bearing an olive branch in its beak, and with its right 

 foot holding a sword, supposed to be the crest of Henry Dove. The in- 

 scription, which is on either side of the shield of arms, reads as follows : — 



HENBT DOVE DYED MAIOE 

 OF SALI8BVET. AK°. DO 1616. 



miLT. 57. AVGVST 24. 



Underneath this is the outline of a large altar tombstone with a skull and 

 an hour-glass placed upon it on either side of the city arms, and bearing these 

 lines upon its front : — 



" I, voyd of ga'l, this cities sword did sway : 

 As God freely confer'd the same on me ; 



Soe I, (before my full prefixed day) 



Eesign'd the same againe unto God free. 



In Peace I liv'd, in Peace I did depart ; 

 Now in seternal Peace I have my part." 



