XXXVI. THE SECOND WINTER MEETING. 



EXHIBITS, &c. 



EXHIBITS BY MR. DIGBY, OF SHERBORNE CASTLE. The 

 following notes on the exhibits made by F. J. B. Wingfield 

 Digby, Esq., were prepared by Mr. E. A. Rawlence, of Salis- 

 bury : 



1. A mould for casting Roman coins. This is half a stone mould showing the 

 head of the Emperor. The stone is apparently of the lias formation, an 1 ! is 

 prepared for casting six coins at a time. There are two sets for three coins in a 

 line with small ducts to convey the molten metal from one die to the other. One 

 set is for a coin about the size of a half -penny, and the other for one of the size 

 of a farthing. There are evidences on the edge of the stone showing that a 

 kindred stone with the reverse dies was bound tightly with it. The mould is 

 probably the work of forgers, who nourished about the end of the Roman 

 occupation. It was found about 1900, by a young man among the nettles in the 

 fosse of the old Castle ruins. How it came there is a mystery, unless it was 

 thrown in when the Castle was demolished by the Parliamentarians. If so, it 

 would seem to suggest that other archffiological relics may have shared the same 

 fate. 



2. A gold rose noble of Edward III., a half noble of the same King, and a 

 half noble of Henry VIII. The coins are in excellent preservation, and have at 

 intervals been picked up in a water course in the old Park by men stopping 

 rabbit earths along its banks. This would seem to indicate that they are part of 

 a hoard hidden there, and are thrown out by the rabbits in the process of their 

 burrowing. The noble is a coin of some rarity and value. 



3. In August, 1906, I discovered a large number of documents at the bottom 

 of an old oak chest in the attics of the central portion of Sherborne Castle, 

 which was the original portion built by Raleigh. They embrace 43 parch- 

 ment rolls of the presentments at the Court of the Hundred of Sherborne, 

 and numerous other papers mostly relating to the Manors of Sherborne and 

 Yetminster. The Hundred Rolls date from 7th of Henry IV., to William and 

 Mary, 1696, thus covering the pre-Refonnation, Reformation, Commonwealth, 

 and Restoration periods, and should afford some interesting information. 



Amongst these papers were three Deeds relating particularly to Sir Walter 

 Raleigh. () A short deed dated 20th January in the fortieth year of Elizabeth 

 signed " W. Raleigh," and sealed with his seal, conveying the fishing rights in 

 a certain meadow called Broadmead, to Thomas and Lawrauce Swetnam. 



(ft) An Indenture made the 1st day of August in the 41st year of Elizabeth, 

 " Betweene the Honourable Sr Walter Ralegh Knight Captaine of her Majesties 

 Gard and co- warden of the Stanries in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall of 

 the one party And Sir George Carew Knight, and Thomas Heriott, gent, of 

 the other party. Witnesseth that the sd Sr George Carew and Thomas Heriott 



