the Downs of North Wiltshire. 



321 



the last group and nearly opposite the fifth mile-stone from De- 

 vizes, was also examined. This proved to be the one opened by 

 Sir R. C. Hoare August 11th, 1814, 1 which was the subject of 

 a lengthy poem, entitled "Beth Pennai'd, or the British Chief- 

 tain's Grave," 2 by the Rev. John Skinner, who with Dean Mere- 

 wether, 3 was present at the opening. From the terms in which 

 Sir Richard Hoare describes the situation of this barrow (in which 

 the richly ornamented earthen drinking cup, here figured, 4 was 

 found near the head of a skeleton) 

 it was at first by no means clear to 

 which he refers. Its identity with 

 that which we re-opened was how- 

 ever proved by the discovery of a 

 brass medal, inscribed 



with the fragments of a skeleton in a cist, which had been exca- 

 vated to some depth in the chalk. Much poetical merit cannot be 

 claimed for Mr. Skinner's unpublished verses; from which, however, 



1 Ancient Wilts, vol. ii. p. 92, No. 4. 



2 "Wilts Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, vol. iv. p. 361, note. 



'"Proceedings Archaeological Institute, at Salisbury," 1849, p. 109. The 

 Dean's description of the locality is also ambiguous ; but one of Sir ltichard's 

 "pioneers," the octogenarian John Parker, perfectly remembers the barrow as 

 the one we re-opened. "Dr. Stukeley" says Sir R. C. Hoare, "has recorded 

 the merits of Reuben norsall, the Town Clerk of Abury : and why should I 

 not do orjual justice to those of our Heytesbury pioneers . . . John Parker 

 and his father Stephen, to the former of whom we feel much indebted for many 

 interesting discoveries." — Ancient Wilts, vol. i. p. 97. 



1 For the use of the wood-cut of this cup, from the Catalogue of the Museum at 

 Btourhead, wo are indebted to Messrs. Nichols and Sons, of Parliament Street. 

 The vase is here represented of about one-tliinl its actual size. 



