Fishing and the third on Coat-Armour. The printer was a monk of this abbey, and is called by Chauncy, John Insomuch." The "Gentleman's Recreation" was first published by Nicholas Cox, in 1674; and was by no means a compilation by Juliana Berners, whose work, printed in 1486 did not comprise the Treatise on fishing. That was added to the second edition of her book, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1496. The articles Royston, Cheshunt, Hertford, and Barnet, stand next to St. Albans in the ampleness of their materials. The account of Tittenhanger, P: 282, may be added to the general specimens of the work, which have been already quoted in our former volumes. "Tittenhanger, or Tyttenhanger, in the parish of Ridge, was an ancient seat of the abbots of St. Albans, who frequently resided here, though their Manor-House was but a mean building, till a new and stately mansion was founded by Abbot John de la Moote, about the end of the fourteenth century. This was afterwards enlarged, and much adorned, by the munificent abbot John of Whelhamsted, in the time of Henry the sixth; and it continued to belong to the abbey till after the dissolution. Henry the eighth, in the last year of his reign, anno 1547, granted the manor and estate to Sir Thomas Pope, founder of Trinity College, Oxford, who had been enriched by many grants of the lands of the dissolved monasteries. He made Tittenhanger his principal residence; and dying without issue, in 1559, devised it to his widow, Elizabeth, daughter of William Blount, esq. of Blount Hall, in Staffordshire. This lady was succeeded by her nephew and heir, Thomas Pope Blount, esq. and from him this estate has descended to the present earl of Hardwicke, in right of his mother, Catherine, first wife of the honorable Charles Yorke, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain; she being the sole heiress of the ancient Hertfordshire families of Pope, Blount, and Freman, The Blounts became extinct by the death of Sir Henry Pope Blount, about the middle of the last century: several of them were men of talents, and considerable literary reputation. "The present mansion at TittenPope Blount, in 1654, and is now inhanger, was built by the first Sir Henry habited by the Right Honourable Charles Yorke, next brother to the Earl of Hardwicke. Chauncy describes it "as a fair structure of brick, with fair walks and gardens," Since his time, the house has been very little altered, but the gardens have been long destroyed, and the park is converted into a farm. The house, which is large and convenient, contains several family pictures of of much notice, except a three quarter the Blounts, but none of them deserving length of CATHERINE, Lady Blount, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. A fine picture of SIR THOMAS POPE, which was in one of the rooms, has been removed to Wimpole, the seat of Lord Hardwicke, in Cambridgeshire. Sir Thomas Pope Blount, knt. with his father, William Blount, esq. and his lady, Frances Blount, lie buried under an altar-tomb in the neighbouring church at Ridge." HUNTINGDONSHIRE occupies about as large a portion of the volume as Hertfordshire: but we think the account of the Cromwell's at Huntingdon too full. The Ferrars of Little Gidding, of whom scarcely any thing occurs, would have been at all events a more novel subject for enlargement. At Kimbolten too we see no mention of the Queen of Scots. The more curious of the smaller articles are those which relate to Ramsey, Chesterton, and the Cottons at Connington. The general History of KENT, with a description of that part of the county which is nearest to the metropolis, fills the remainder of the seventh volume. which the eighth volume of the The account of Rochester, with Beauties opens, forms both a curious and an ample Memoir; though it is exceeded in extent by the account of Canterbury; in which latter almost every information which even a resident in the county could require may be found. From what relates to the ancient police of the city we shall make a short extract. "Among the more remarkable circumstances relating to the police of this city, may be mentioned the following; in the forty eighth of the reign of Henry the third, as appears from the patent rolls of that year, quoted by Philipot, the king granted a free pardon to Frances de Belsham, for that she was hanged for felony at Canterbury, from nine o'clock on Monday, to the rising of the sun next day, and yet escaped with life.* In the year 1571, as appears from the city records, the sum of nine pence was paid for "writing papers for witches ;" and the Grand Jury present "mother Hudson, of the parish of St. Mary Dungeon, for that they vehemently suspect her to be a witch." In 1580, the Grand Jury present three persons dwelling in St. Andrews, "for keeping open shop, they being unmarried, and under the age of thirty years." At a sessions held here in 1656, one John Alcocke was found guilty of murder; but execution was staid on his declaring himself to be a clerk, and craving the benefit of clergy. "Thereupon," says the record, comes James Lamb, clerk and ordinary, and the book being delivered unto the said John Alcocke, the said John Alcocke did read as a clerk :" he was therefore only burned in the left hand, according to the 'statute. In 1560, several persons were executed here for witchcraft. The duckking or cucking stool, appears to have been in use in this city, as a new one is recorded to have been provided in the year 1520, and the Grand Jury, in 1537,"present the wile of John Tyler for living viciously, and for the which her husband had forsaken her; and the Jury desire she might be banished by the feast of St. James next, under pain of open punishment in the ducking stool." On the Portus Rutupensis, Re culver, Minster, Sandwich, Dover, the Weald of Kent, Maidstone, and Penshurst, Mr. Brayley has made a valuable selection of materials. The seventh volume is accompanied by thirty nine, and the eighth by twenty seven engravings; the subjects of which relate to various counties. Among the best are the views of Chee Torr in Derbyshire, the Straits of Dove-dale, Netley, Merton College, Oxford, Lees Priory, Essex, the West-Gate Canterbury, the Rye House, and Tintern Abbey. the largest share of original infor The county which lays claim to nation in Mr. Britton's volume is that of LANCASTER. The more important articles of which relate to the town of Lancaster, Preston, Ribchester, Whalley, Liverpool, and Manchester: in the last of which, Mr. Britton has judiciously avoided the adoption of Dr. Whi taker's reveries. At p. 302, we have an amusing account of Tim Bobbin and the Lancashire dialect. For LEICESTERSHIRE Mr. Britton has contented himself with a careful abridgment from the extended history by Mr. Nichols: whose liberality and kindness in correcting the proof-sheets are duely acknowledged. We are least pleased where Mr. Britton deviates from his precursor. The attainments of Lady Jane Grey, we are told, are nearly "allied to those Monkish romances of Saints and Martyrs invented by craft to impose on credulity." We are indebted for the account of them to "the indiscriminate and garrulous encomiums of Roger Ascham." Dr. Johnson and Dr. Ferriar also are represented to have given celebrity to Burton (who wrote the Anatomy of Melancholy) by "their injudicious praises.” * Villare Cantianum, p. 93. The account of LINCOLNSHIRE is certainly the best which has hitherto been given by any Topographer. Of the plates accompanying this volume we prefer those of Uffington church, Down Amney, Townley Hall, Radford Gate, Ludlow Castle, and St. James's church, Devizes. ART. V. Munimenta Antiqua: or Observations on Ancient Castles. Including Remarks on the whole Progress of Architecture, Ecclesiastical, as well as Military, in Great Britain; and on the corresponding Changes, in Munners, Laws, and Customs. Tending both to illustrate Modern History: and to elucidate_many_interesting Passages in various Ancient Classic Authors. By EDWARD KING, Esq. F.R.S. and A.Ş. Vol. 4. folio. THIS fourth and last volume of the Munimenta Antiqua, for the author is now dead, is in fact confined to the examination of such of of our ecclesiastical structures as are usually called Saxon Churches. In the introduction, however, Mr. King, principally in answer to Mr. Dutens, adduces a new series of facts to prove what had been before rested on in the second volume; that the Arch never existed in any kind of architecture on earth, till some short time before the age of Augustus. In the second chapter of the fourth book, with which the main substance of the volume commences, we have his observations on the History and Origin of the first Churches and Religious structures in England. These he dates as far back as the time of Honorius and Theodore; in the middle of the seventh century: following a large assemblage of historical facts by a regular and minute investigation not only of such religious structures now remaining as he thinks may with fairness be referred to the period in question; but accompany ing them with such remarks and specimens from other structures as continue the history of what is called the Saxon style of architecture to the latest period of its existence under the Norman kings. Confining his attention in the first instance to Parochial Churches, Mr. King conceives, and perhaps judiciously, that as Honorius and Theodore had first established the division of parishes he might expect to find structures of this sort, with marks of the highest antiquity beyond all others, within the limits of their jurisdiction. Foremost in this ancient class he places the curious old church of Barfreston in Kent; but without any documents of a written or even legendary nature to bear him out in ascribing it to so remote a date. It is but fair, however, to say, that at the close of his description we have an enumeration of the following peculiarities which Mr. King deems characteristic distinctions of the early Saxon arches: and from which antiquaries may form some notion of the correctness or fallacy of his conclusions. " 1, A studied diversity of ornament, in the capitals of the supporting pillars, on each side the arch; instead of exact uniformity. "2, A transom stone, (or transom stones)most usually filling up the semicircular part of the arch, as if to support it on the inside; and generally resting on the pillows at the two ends. standing inwards, and somewhat nearer 3, The supporting pillars, placed to each other than the whole diameter of the arch; and so as to support, with their capitals, both the inward transom stone, as well as the end of the arch. "4, A loaded variety of ornaments, on the mouldings of the arch; and often in very small compartments; and a great variety of mouldings, besides the indent ed moulding. "5, Yet, in general, a very plain sim ple kind of impost moulding, resting on the capitals of the pillars, for the support of the arch. "All these five peculiarities are sometimes, (though not often) found united together in the same door-case, or window ;—and are ever so truly cha racteristick, that hardly any Saxon doorway is ever found without one or two of them combined. "By these circumstances, therefore, such parts of truly antient ecclesiastical Saxon buildings as remain may be identified. But it is not to be imagined, either that these peculiar ornaments continued invariably to be used, just in the same sort of fashion, quite till the Norman conquest; or that immediately afterward they went entirely out of use. Now and then they were somewhat imi Now and then they were somewhat imitated by the Normans; but in such a manner, that as far as I have ever seen any instances, they may easily be distinguished by a discerning eye, both by the larger proportion of the several parts, and by an evident introduction of corresponding ornaments, on each side, instead of the Saxon diversity. "They may possibly also have been imitated from mere fancy, in a few instances, in succeeding ages; as they might even be introduced, in a mere modern building, so as to deceive the modern building, so as to deceive the unwary. But nevertheless, they will still be truly characteristick of the Saxon ecclesiastical style of building," In the same part of Kent as Barfreston, says Mr. King, and amongst those that may justly be deemed some of Theodore's first parish churches, as to the most ancient part of its walls, is found another, at St. Margarets Bay, or Cliff. In the west fiont of which over the great door, within a large triangular space of wrought stone work are some very odd ornaments; and several concentric arches, adorned with devices, hardly to be met with any where else. But he still leaves us as destitute of documents as in the first instance. To a door-way at Malmesbury, we find a date less remote perhaps, but still unsatisfactory, ascribed. At p. 99, leaving the consideration of the small churches, built for ceeds to consider the buildings imthe use of parishes, Mr. King promediately following, of a more magnificent kind, and on a larger scale: the principal instance of which he exhibits in the monastery of Pershore, in Worcestershire: first founded by Duke Oswald, about the year 680. This monastery, as is well known, was burnt in the reign of Edgar: "but the walls of the church, says Mr. King, both within and without, still plainly shew the most curious remains of the truly Saron building; notwithstanding the fine additional arches and windows, of the age of King Stephen; and notwithstanding many subsequent alterations even in defiance of the exceeding injury the whole has received by white-wash, and by most injudicious repairs.” and der those buildings, which being Mr. King next proceeds to consiundertaken upon a more magnificent scale, by princes themselves, were therefore larger; but were built with less nice attention, and with less curious workmanship:and were by no means trimmed or ment. Buildings which were most adorned with such variety of ornamanifestly executed by workmen who offered themselves in numbers to do their best, without either such guidance, or such abilities, as devised the other small, more neat, and more artificial works:-workmen who, therefore, buildings, rude, rough, and hastherefore, produced tily reared; like their own ideas; but great, and surpassing the others in magnificence; as the pecuniary abilities of their emabilities of those who reared the ployers surpassed the pecuniary smaller parish churches. the principal noticed by Mr. King Among these great structures are St. Albans, Tewksbury, Glou cester Cathedral, the church of ecclesiastical edifices in their oriEwenny in Glamorganshire, St. gin, in this manner, to bare conjecPeter's Oxford, Christ-Church Ox-ture, is unfair. The great number ford, Rochester, and Waltham Abbey. To enter into a minute analysis here of the different buildings described, would be impossible: but we are of opinion that to many of those enumerated, Mr. King gives a remoter origin than even their style of architecture will allow. The chancel of St. Peter's church in the East, at Oxford, for instance, he seems to consider as of the same age with the crypt beneath it. Whereas the latter is of a rude, grotesque species of workmanship; while the former is in a style most beautifully finished and refined: light, and richly ornamented. Nor have we usually heard of so remote a date as the early part of the eleventh century being assigned to any part of the cathedral of Rochester. In Waltham Abbey, however, we have a decided, and unquestionable specimen of Harold's Architecture; or rather of that of Edward the Confessor; but which Mr. King conceives to exhibit in itself the most characteristick marks of the rude sort of retrogradation of art, which took place about that period in architectural skill. Subjecting the reference of our of churches mentioned as existing, in the Domesday Survey, inclines us to believe that many parochial specimens of high antiquity and curious workmanship are still remaining, whose exact age might be fixed upon the authority of unquestionable documents. At the same time, be it known that the assemblage of curious facts, the great variety of learning, the engraved views, the specimens and details of parts, and even the admeasurements of buildings exhibited in the Munimenta Antiqua, will always render the name of its author respected among Antiquaries. The third chapter of the fourth Book, with which the volume clo. ses, relates to the pillar-towers, which arose, says Mr. King, during the periods to which we have been attending, in some of those parts of Ireland that were first converted to Christianity; and in some of the northern parts of Great Britain. An Appendix, at the end, contains Mr. King's answers to M. P. L. Dutens, in reply to his second, third, and fourth publications, on the subject of the invention of the arch, ART. VI. The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, displayed in a Series of Select Engravings, representing the most beautiful, curious and interesting ancient Edifices of this Country, with an Historical and Descriptive Account of each Subject. By JOHN BRITTON. Parts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 4to. OUR Review of the three first parts of the Architectural Antiquities was elaborate; because it seemed necessary, in recommending such a work to public notice, that something should be said upon the history of our ancient structures, as well as upon the ample field in which the author had engaged to exercise his talents. ANN. REV. VOL. VII. The three subsequent parts were more slightly mentioned; because it seemed enough in that instance to say that the work was continued with undiminished zeal and ability. The seventh and eighth parts complete the first volume. In these the most important articles are the Castle at Colchester, the Door-way at outh-Okendon, and the views and G |