VOL. XXXIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 33 



Doctor Wallis had, in l683, communicated to the R. S. the draught of a 

 mantle-tree, somewhat like this, which he saw at the parsonage-house at 

 Helmdon in Northamptonshire. The date, which was likewise carved in mixed 

 characters, expressed the year &} 133, as the Doctor read it. This being the 

 oldest monument of that sort, which had then been discovered among us, was 

 published first in the Philos. Trans. N" 154, and afterwards in the Doctor's 

 Algebra, cap. 4, p. 14. 



In 1700, another draught of a date at Colchester, which had been sent to 

 Dr. Wallis by Mr. Luffkin, who copied it from the under cell of a wooden 

 window, and read the figures lOQO, being all Arabian, was printed likewise in 

 the Transactions, N° 266, as more ancient than the former. 



None earlier than these last two had yet appeared, till that from Widgel- 

 Hall. On the sight of this, Mr. Ward thought the reading given to it looked 

 very plausible. The mixed characters were no just objection, which Dr. Wallis 

 had accounted for in the Helmdon date, and Mr. Ward himself observed in 

 some manuscripts. Yet one difficulty seemed to remain, which was the want 

 of some character in the place of hundreds. And therefore soon after going 

 into Hertfordshire, he took that opportunity to wait upon Mr. Gulston, in 

 order to see the original. 



That gentleman afterwards informed him, by letter, that the house was 

 always esteemed ancient : that before it was burnt, on the timbers there were 

 several old coats of arms ; some were considered as belonging to the family of 

 the Scalers, who were possessors of Widdihale, with other estates, soon after 

 the conquest ; and at the time of the conquest it was in the possession of a 

 considerable follower of Harold. 



Widdihale, in Hertfordshire, in the time of the Conqueror was parcel of the 

 estate of Hardwin de Scalers, as appears by Domesday Book, fol. 141. It con- 

 tinued in that family for several generations, till it came to Anthony Widvile, 

 by the marriage of the daughter and heir of Scalers. But when he would not 

 comply with Richard the Third to destroy the young Princes, all his lands were 

 seized, and the manor continued in the crown, till Henry the Eighth granted 

 it to George Canon and John Gill: George Gill, the son of John, marrying the 

 daughter of George Canon, obtained the whole. In this family it continued till 

 the beginning of the reign of James the First, when it was sold to John 

 Goulston, Esq. whose descendants now hold it. 



The piece of timber was the top of a door-way, in a timber built house, and 

 plastered over with mortar. From the date on the plastered wall, the door had 

 not been used at least 343 years ; for on the outside was plainly to be seen the 



VOL. VIII. F 



