( 441 } 
V. Part of a Letter from Dr. Muigrave, 
Fdlow of the College of Fhyficians and R. S. 
to Dr. Sioane \ concerning a Piece of Antiqui^ 
ty lately fonnd in Soaierfetfliire. 
IEnclofe, to you, the Figure (^fet Fig, 4.) of a curi- 
ous piece of Antiquity, lately found near AJhelney 'm 
Somerfetjbire i the Place where King AlfreJ built, as 
Milton affirms, a Fortrefs : But according to IVilliam of 
Malmsiury^ a Monaflery ; in Meniory ( as fome have 
thought) of his Deliverance, obfcure Retreat to that 
Place, and Concealment in it, from the Danes. 
The Subftance is in the Poffeflion of Col. F. of Fair- 
fetid in the fame County ; by whofe, Permiffion, I had 
the Sight of it. 'Tis of the fame Length and Breadth 
with tne Figure : the Work very fine ; fo as to make 
fome Men queftionits true Age; But in all probability, 
it did belong to that great King, it is fo well reprefented 
in the Figure, that a Thort Delcription will fuffice. 
The Edge is thin, as far as the Letters. The Letters 
are on a Plane rifmg obliquely. All within the inner 
Pyramidal Line is on a Plane equi-diftant from the Re» 
verfe. The Reprefentation (in that upper Plane) feems 
to be of fome Pcrfon in a Chair. It is in Enamel, cover'd 
over with a Cryftal ; which is fecured in its place by 
the little Leaves coming over its Edges. In the Rcverfe 
are Flowers engraved. The whole piece may be of the 
Weight of Three Guineas. The Chryftal and Enamel 
excepted, it is til of pure Gold. 
This, perhaps, was an Amulet of King Alfrtd's. 
Exony Dec. 10. 1698. 
V vv 
