By Mr. Edward Kite. 



273 



equal length. The sides of the grave were constructed of regular 

 masonry, plastered over, but there was no stone floor. On removing 

 the rubbish a perfect skeleton of a male was discovered, together 

 with the nails and other traces of the wooden coffin in which it had 

 been enclosed. The skull was in a very perfect state ; the right 

 arm was bent, and the closed hand lay over the abdomen, whilst 

 the left was extended and placed close to the side. Over the right 

 shoulder was found the stem of a pewter chalice (very much corroded) 

 together with numerous small fragments of the bowl and foot. 

 Two circular bronze buckles, each 2 inches in diameter, lay, one 

 immediately below the pelvis, and the other underneath the left 

 hand, the latter having attached to it a small fragment apparently 

 of leather, but wholly decomposed. There were no traces of vest- 

 ments, but the chalice proves the remains to have been those of an 

 ecclesiastic, 1 most likety, some priest connected with the service of 

 the Abbey Church. 2 The buckles may have been the fastenings of 

 a leathern girdle worn round the waist above the albe or under 

 vestment. 



Since this first discover} 7 , the excavations have been continued, 

 and the foundations of about 60 feet of the eastern portion of the 

 Abbey Church have been exposed, being probably, those of the 

 Presbytery or Sanctuary to the East of the choir. It seems to 

 have terminated in a semicircular apse, a form by no means unusual 



1 The custom of depositing a chalice and paten with the corpse of a priest 

 appears to have been very general ; and, although no established regulation 

 may be found which prescribes it, it is in accordance with ancient evidences 

 cited by Martene in his treatise on Rites observed at the Obsequies of Ecclesi- 

 astics. Occasionally not only the sacred vessels, but a portion of the Eucharist 

 was placed upon the breast of the deceased ; a very ancient practice, although 

 forbidden by several Councils. An old writer on ritual observances, cited by 

 Martene, states that it was customary to place over the head of the corpse a 

 sigillum of wax, fashioned in the form of a cross : that the bodies of persons 

 who had received Holy Orders ought to be interred in the vestments worn by 

 them at Ordination ; and that on the breast of a priest ought to be placed a 

 chalice, which, in default of such sacred vessel of pewter, should be of earthen- 

 ware. (See Archaeological Journal, No. x., p. 136.) 



2 In the porch of the Church of Holy Trinity is a monumental slab, bearing 

 the recumbent effigy of a priest. This came from the site of the Abbey. 



