II!.] 



OF SEUBORNE. 



!f,3 



under them, whence I conclude they have been removed to this 

 place from some part of a former church. One of these lids is 

 so eaten by time, that no sculpture can be discovered on it : 

 or, perhaps, it may be the wrong side uppermost : but on the 

 other, which seems to be of stone of a closer and harder 

 texture, is to be discerned a t/infi/n, with a cross on it, at 



VI KW IS CIIA.MKI. SIIIIVVINIi CII.HKKT WHITE'S MUM'MKNT. 



the end of a staff or rod, the well known symbol of a 

 Knight Templar. 1 



This order was distinguished by a red cross on the left 

 shoulder of their cloak, and by this attribute in their hand. 

 Now, if these stones belonged to Knights Templars, they must 

 have lain here many centuries ; for this order came into England 

 early in the reign of King Stephen in 1113 ; and was dissolved 

 in the time of Edward II. in 1312, having subsisted only one 



1 See Dngclale, " Monasticon Anglieanum," vol. ii., where there is a fine 

 engraving of a Knight Templar, l>y Holl.-ir. 



