The Report. 333 



deeds, were exhibited by the freemen. He took the opportunity 

 of expressing the hope that^these old deeds, which have never been 

 copied or properly edited, miglit be placed in the hands of some 

 competent authority for examination. They might contain much 

 that was valuable for the history of Malmesbury. After an in- 

 terval for tea and music — the latter kindly provided by Miss 

 Sharpe, THE REV. F. H. MANLEY read an entertaining paper on 

 THE MALMESBURY PARISH REGISTERS. 



Quite a number of interesting and valuable objects had been 

 arranged for exhibition in addition to the Borough and Church 

 plate mentioned above — Bronze implements, and Palaeolithic and 

 jSTeolithic flint implements, by Mr. A. D. Passmore; the Standard 

 Y'^ard and Ell of Malmesbury, dated 1654 and guaranteed as correct 

 in 1893 ; Pottery fragments from the curious mound near the 

 churchyard at Great Somerford, excavated by the Eev. F. H. 

 Manley, who also exhibited many good spoons of silver and latten, 

 &c. ; books, prints, photographs, &c. ; and a number of specimens 

 of lace and embroidery, together with a curious early verge watch 

 in a small oblong crystal case, a beautiful miniature of Mrs. 

 Brinsley Sheridan, and other objects of interest exhibited by the 

 Misses Pitt. The four splendid volumes of the great MS. Bible, 

 arranged as a lectionary, with its Flemish fifteenth century minia- 

 tures, from Cole Park, which had figured as the chief exhibit at 

 the previous Malmesbury Meeting, were again most kindly lent.^ 

 There were also exhibited by Mrs. Luce a number of samples of 

 lace made in Malmesbury, apparently all of them identical with 

 Buckinghamshire patterns. This industry has been recently hap- 

 pily revived by the efforts of ladies of tlie neighbourhood. Another 

 interesting ()l)je{'t was a silver cup, exhi])ited by ihe Misses Hanks. 

 I It is a })hiin g()l)leL-.shaped v\\\), without ornament, exc'e])t that to 

 ! one side of the liowl, close to the lip, is attached an a[)})le with 

 leaf and stem in high relief. On the l)Owl is this inscription: — 

 "Till' (Jift of Edinniul Kstroiiit Ks<|. to ^\ Sti-]." Matli.-ws Cai-ital 

 IJurgcss as a ni.irk of Gratitude for his steady sui)i)ort at the Eleetion 

 of Hi;:,^h Steward of the Borou;,'h of Malmesbury in the Year 1SU4 when 

 the nine Apples triumjjh'd over the four Crabs." 



1 For (h'vcri|.ti.ui of tlu-se $rr ir.J.l/., xxxi., 120. 



