Recent Antiquarian Explorations. 41 



remedial agencies that have been in use in Ireland from time 

 immemorial, and the use of which has almost dropped out of 

 sight. In this as in many other matters our ancestors had more 

 knowledge and skill than we usually give them credit for. 



Mr. Milligan then exhibited a carved oak Tudor panel, 5 feet 

 by 3 feet. He said — This curious relic of the Tudor period, I 

 think, must have belonged to Queen Elizabeth in the adorn- 

 ment of one of her palaces, as part of some piece of furniture, 

 and not necessarily of a state bedstead, but may have been 

 the back of a throne or state seat, or been placed over the 

 fireplace. No subject, however great, would have dared to use 

 the Royal insignia in his mansion as here carved, unless the 

 sovereign parted with it to some favourite. Bequests of this 

 kind are frequently met with in the will of some of our 

 sovereigns. Elizabeth was particularly jealous of her rights in 

 such matters. One of the chief reasons why Mary Queen of 

 Scots lost her head was her assumption of the Royal Arms of 

 England as successor to the throne, a caution to those who use 

 unauthorised coats of arms. The Royal Arms of Elizabeth, 

 with the Garter, is carved in the centre of the panel. It is 

 ornamented with scroll work and other ornamentation peculiar 

 to the Tudor period. The panel, when it came into my pos- 

 session, was used as the bottom board of an ancient state oak 

 bedstead, but, for the reasons stated above, it is likely it was not 

 originally made for this purpose. 



The paper was illustrated by original lantern views, exhibited 

 by Mr. James Meneely. 



Messrs. W. A. Ross, Thomas Workman, J.P., and Robert 

 Young having criticised the papers, a vote of thanks was passed 

 to Messrs. Milligan, Brown, and Vinycomb. 



