TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 851 
remained until 1827, when Archbishop Harcourt presented them to the Museum at 
York. Gough has described them at this period in his British Topographer, 
1780. The first noticed represents Warwickshire, and is now at York. It is 
13 ft. x 17 ft. x 3 ft. exclusive of the border, and contains a long inscription copied 
from Camden. Its date is ascertained by the arms of Sheldon impaling Markham, 
viz., Edward Sheldon, grandson of William, who married Elizabeth Markham 
about 1588, which date is on the map. 
The second of the York maps is the most modern, having the arms of Ralph 
Sheldon, born 1623, and his wife Henrietta, daughter of Viscount Rocksavage. In 
this map the north is at the top, but in the former map the north is upon the 
east side. This represents the valley of the Thames from Chippenham (spelt 
Chipnam) to London Bridge, the dimensions are 13 ft. x 17 ft. 9 inches. 
The third map at York is one of Worcestershire, and is so begrimed with soot 
as to be almost undecipherable, though enough can be made out to identify it with 
Gough’s description. 
The Bodleian maps are much mutilated. A large fragment cut off one made 
into a screen was sold at the Strawberry Hill Sale, 1842, and Mr. D. P. (Dudley 
Perceval ?) in ‘Notes and Queries,’ June 26, 1869, says that he had lately been offered 
a portion of the West of Gloucestershire at an old curiosity shop. Still there are 
remnants of great beauty and interest. On the fragments of the border are many 
ornamental and allegorical figures, one favourite subject being the exploits of 
Ifercules. There is a small map of Africa also which has unfortunately suffered 
terribly, though the Capo de Bona Speranza and the island of Madagascar are 
quite distinct. Another feature is that poetical inscriptions in decorative panels 
torm part ofthe border. 
On this side which the sonne doth warme With his declining beames, 
Severn and Teme in channell deepe Doo run, too ancient stremes, 
Thes make the neibor’s pasture riche. Thes yeld of fruit great store, 
And do convey tho out the shire, Commodities many more. 
Again, under the word Occidens, 
Here hills do lift their heads aloft. From whence sweet springes doo flow, 
Whose moistur good doth firtil make The vallies coucht below. 
Here goodly orchards planted are, Infinite which doo abounde 
Thine ey wold make thin heart rejoyce To see such pleasant grounde. 
The Tudor arms also date the map as having been executed before the accession 
of James I., and Richard Hyckes has placed his name upon it. ‘Wigom: comit: 
Compiletata, Rich. Hyckes.’ The remaining map is one of the valley of the 
Thames similar to the one at York already described. It was from this that 
Walpole cut the piece for the screen. Fortunately, the piece containing London is 
intact 18 x 36 inches, and gives a most graphic and curious portraiture of the 
suburbs. The manor houses and deer parks, the churches, villages, bridges, and 
windmills, are all represented in a bird's-eye view, and the colours have stood the 
test of time remarkably well. Every village is named, and the spelling even to 
some obvious mistakes seems to follow that of Saxton’s maps, but these maps are 
so much larger a scale, 3 inches to the mile, that it is evident some personal 
observation or survey was undertaken, I am inclined to believe, by Francis Hicks, 
of Barcheston, who was a student at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, and a good scholar. 
He died in 1630, , 
2. The Altels Avalanche. By Tempest AnvERsON, JLD., B.Sc. 
On September 11, 1895, an enormous avalanche fell from the Altels mountain 
and overwhelmed a large pasture ; it destroyed 6 men and 150 cattle. 
About two hours to the south of Kandersteg the Gemmi path traverses an 
upland valley with the Altels rising steeply from the stream on the east side and 
with gentle slopes on the west, rising to the foot of the Oeschinen Grat, a precipi- 
tous wall of rocks which separates it from the Oeschinen Thal. The basin_of 
