182 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF

those found in the Roman stations of tlic North as undeniably medieval.* The ]>i|ies in Mr. Bernhard Smith's collection bear various makers' marks stamped on the spur, amongst wliicli occur the names and initials, John Roberts — Mich. Brown — Jo>eph Hughes — Thomas Evans — W. G. — W. S. C. B. — P. C. — I. II. — within a heart ; E. E. and W. B., a hand being in the last two instances placed between the initials. They were found at Much Wenlock. The significance of this symbol appears to be set forth by Fuller, who in his account of the manufacture of pipes, the best being made at Amesbury in Wilts, asserts the superior excellence of "Gauntlet- pipes, which have that mark on their heel," and relates the ingenious defence of a maker who was sued for pirating the mark, and alleged that the thumb of his gauntlet stood differently to the plaintiff's, and the same hand "-iven dexter or sinister in heraldry is a sufficient diflcrence." The tobacco-pipe makers were incorporated in 1G19 ; at a later period they petitioned in vain to become a livery company of the City of London. Bv Mr. M. A. LowKU. — Impressions from a brass seal of pointed-oval form', presented to Mr. Lower by the Rev. J. Carnegie, of Seaford. In the centre in a circular compartment appears the tonsured head of an ecclesiastic, seen in profile to the left ; the spandrels above and below the circle being filled with tracery. The inscription around is as follows : -f- HENEDicTio d'xi svper capvt walteri. Date XlVth cent. Bv the Rev. Walter Snevd. — Brass matrix, presented to him by the Duke of Hamilton, by wbom it had been found amongst the collections at Hamilton Palace. The device is a domi-figure of St. Catharine, with the head and arms of an ecclesiastic in a suppliant attitude beneath. — LAVEDi SAINT katerin' I'RAi FOR 10 Poiutcd-oval, XlVtli cent. By the Hon. W. Fox Strangways. — Impressions from matrices of seals in the possession of Mr. Walrond. Silver matrix of the fraternity of tailors at Exeter. It is of circular form ; the work elaborately finisliod. It represents the Baptist, clad in camel's skin, and holding the ckjiius ; this fifure is placed in a quatrefoilcd panel, with an escutcheon at each side, each charged with a pair of shears. The inscription is as follows : — ^icjillum tomuiu ftattinilatt£{ . £it'S£>orum . ttuitnS . rvonic. The handle is attached by a hinge, so as lu fall flat on the reverse of the seal, which is of circular form. The ancient guild of tailors has been recently broken up ; their documents passed into private hands, and their seal came into the hands of a pawnbroker, by whom it was sold to a work- in" silversmith ia the west. The date of this seal may be as^igned to 1475, when the corporation of tailors in Exeter obtained a new charter from Edward IV., which gave great offence to tho mayor and common council as a sujiposed infringement on their liberties, and tlioy commenced a suit, which was terminated by the interference of the crown after two years, but tho aniuKj^ity continued for a considerable time.'* — Seal of

• Sec Dr. Hpucc'h nccouiit of Minor flfcnrcfJ, p. C)7'K Comparo Rron^'niart's

Aiiti'iuiticH, " Roiimn Wall," wc. iiiit., ninaikH on )>i|K'H of tlic Vlltli iTiiHiry, i>. Hi, wlic-re two of thorn; fiiiry pipiH iiro " 'riuiti- dca Arl« ( criiinitjues," vol ii., p. r<-|>r<-H<-nU!<l — oiio Ix-arM the Htaiii|i Ii. ('. lil!'. Dr. W'iKnii, ill liiH ♦' I'rchihtorio Aiiiwils," ' I'lillcr'H «' Wortiiiea of Wiltshire," wiiiiM iiH'liiii'il to iihsi>;ii hiirli |ii|)CM l<) iiii .Maiiiilai'liirrH. UK<- Ion;; prior to that of I^li/.aliith ami " .Iink^ii.s' " lli«l(»ry of Kx<!trr," |>. (l.^. .Sir V:ill«r Itaii i^h. Stc a "(Jcltic pijM- "