2ft. 10in., date 1588. J.F.C. Side panels-Conventional floral design. Centre - Anchors. (2) Width 3ft. 2in., height 1ft. 6in.. Conventional floral design. Date probably fifteenth century. Mr. Meyrick Jones thinks the first half of the century.

Athelhampton. Mr. Cochrane kindly allowed me to examine these (Sept. 17th, 1926). No. 1-Great Hall, date 1651? A large cross between two fleurs de lis. No. 2-King's Antechamber. There are three figures, one is a boy pouring water out of a vessel. No. 3-Great Parlour. This is a plain square piece, the ornamentation consists of floral design. Over the fire-back, but separate, is a prettily designed Hanger." No. 4-In the Solar. A figure in armour on horseback, " C.R.” possibly representing Charles II.

N.B. The full designs and measurements were partly hidden, owing to the large logs of wood in the grates.

Worth Matravers. Dr. Dru Drury examined and sent me a sketch of a fire-back in the possession of Commander J. R. Strange, R. N. It has unfortunately been broken, the size at the present time being width 2ft. 2in.; height at sides 1ft. 6in., and a semicircular top in centre. The design consists of large fleur de lis, and initials M.R. At the top is a date intended for 1616, but the figures 6 are cast the wrong way, reversed. The fire-back was bought about 30 years ago in a sale of a builder at Tarrant Keynston, apparently as scrap iron.

Lt. Col. J. Benett-Stanford has kindly sent me a description of a fire-back in his possession. The date is 1633; initials W.M.B. William Bennett. The design consists solely of eagles; three double-headed and a large number of small eagles.

Mr. R. Hine reports that he can recall to memory in the Beaminster District, three fire-backs, viz. :-at Parnham, Melplash Court, and in a cottage at Burstock, and has a photograph also of one at Wylle Court, near Hawkchurch.

HE practice of separate burial of the heart was an ancient one, and in mediaeval times was common in this country with a short break from 1294 to 1303, when Pope Boniface VIII. forbade the custom. (Encyclop. Britt.)

In the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries particularly it had become almost customary for persons of rank and importance to give directions disposing of their hearts, and often other anatomical parts, to specified religious houses for burial apart from their bodies. Thus there might be as many as three memorials in different churches to one person, and as masses would be said for the soul of the deceased in each place, we can readily perceive one of the chief reasons for the practice of heart burial, namely the desire to reap the fullest advantage from the increased number of masses.

Consider also the instance of the death of a knight abroad on military service, may be a crusade: though his body must lie in a foreign soil, his heart could be sent home for burial in that

particular church for which he had a special regard by reason of its being the burial-place of his family, or having been founded or enriched by himself.

The charming story of the heart of the "Ladye of Lydlinch " and West Parley church in this County, may be cited as an example of a founder's heart-burial, it is also an instance of an ancient local tradition being subsequently confirmed during Church restoration.

In Vol. XIX D.F.C. Proceedings, p. lxvi, the following reference occurs: "The greatest curiosity of the Church (at West Parley) is undoubtedly the round stone and urn connected with the lady foundress and patroness of the Church. The round stone is situated in a niche in the wall behind the altar. Investigation lent much support to the tradition that it covered the heart of "the Lady of Lydlinch" who gave the Church its glebe and the tithe of nearly all her land. The earthenware urn, which now stands on the stone formerly covering it, is fifteen inches both in height and diameter. It was found at a depth of three feet below the surface, and was filled with fine earth, apparently sifted. It was clearly an interment, not a cremation. It is stated by good authorities that the date must be about 1100 A.D. Before the "Ladye” died at Lydlinch she is said to have summoned her retainers and told them that her heart was in West Parley, and made them promise to carry her heart thither as soon as she was dead. This urn confirms the tradition and points to the theory that the lady was a Norman, and that she re-built the Saxon church at West Parley in her own style, using Saxon workmen and the old materials. She moreover, gave all the endowments that it possesses. Few ancient parishes can trace their endowment as well as this parish.”

Sir Frederick Treves, incredulous but polite, aptly wrote (Highways and Byways in Dorset, pp.123-4). "The heart must have been large to fill the urn;" and it must be confessed, in spite of tradition, that the large size of the urn probably denotes a visceral rather than a heart-burial.

The stone, some two feet in diameter, with the urn standing upon it, was built into a chamber on the outer east wall at ground level, in 1896, with protecting glass and stout iron bars.

Lydlinch lies a few miles south-west of Sturminster Newton, whilst West Parley is on the extreme eastern boundary of the County.

Again Bishops, often translated from one see to another, afford many examples of heart-burial. For instance :

Richard Poore, Bishop of Old Sarum and of Salisbury from 1217 to 1229, who decided to abandon Old Sarum and started building the new Cathedral at Salisbury, was later translated to Durham. He was born at Tarrant Crawford in Dorset, and was a benefactor to the Cistercian Nunnery there, where he died in 1237, and in which his heart is said to have been interred,* his body being taken to Durham, and a cenotaph with effigy erected in the New Cathedral at Salisbury. (Gleeson White's Salisbury, Bell's Cathedral Series).

Peter de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, died 1238, was buried at Winchester, where his tomb with Purbeck Marble effigy is to be seen in the retro-choir : his heart was buried at Waverley Abbey, Surrey. (Dugdale's Monasticon).

Exactly the reverse was the case with another Bishop of Winchester :—

Nicholas de Ely, who died 1280, was buried at Waverley, though his heart was buried in a leaden casket in Winchester, where a modern inscription on the presbytery wall in the South choir aisle marks the spot. (Sergeant's Winchester, Bell's Cathedral Series).

*There can be no doubt that, according to his desire, Bishop Richard Poore's body was buried at Tarrant Crawford, his native place, where he died, and that his heart was buried at Durham. The old authorities (including Greystones, the Durham historian, who lived less than 100 years after Bishop Poore), so have it. Leland, who visited Salisbury in 1540, appears to have originated the story of his body being buried at Durham. Editor.

Peter de Aquablanca, Bishop of Hereford, died 1270, was buried at Hereford, but his heart was sent for burial at his birthplace, Aigue Belle in Savoy.

Robert de Stichill, Bishop of Durham, died in France in 1272; his body was buried in a French monastery, but his heart was brought home and buried in, the Chapter House at Durham (Bygate's Durham, Bell's Cathedral Series).

Roger of Norton, Abbot of St. Albans, died 1290. His body was buried before the High Altar at St. Albans ; but his heart was placed in a box of Eastern workmanship before one of the altars in the retro-choir. (Rev. T. Perkins' St. Albans Abbey, Bell's Cathedral Series).

Thomas Skevyngton, Bishop of Bangor and Abbot of Beaulieu, died in 1533, his body was buried at Beaulieu, and his heart at Bangor. (Sir J. K. Fowler, History of Beaulieu Abbey, p. 199).

Many other instances could be given, but these will suffice as far as bishops are concerned.

Numerous records remain concerning Royalty. Here is a family series comprising a regular heart-burial pedigree :—

King Henry III. died 1272. His body was buried at Westminster Abbey, the choir of which he had rebuilt. Twenty years later, in 1292, the Abbot of Westminster delivered Henry's heart to the Abbess of Fontevrault to whom the King had promised it when he visited her house in 1254. (Dict. Nat. Biog.)

Eleanor of Provence, his queen, died 1291. Her body was buried at Amesbury; her heart in the Church of the Greyfriars, London. (Jusserand, English Wayfaring Life 14th Cent., p.193).

Edward I., their son, died 1307, was buried in Westminster Abbey; his heart at Jerusalem. (Encyc. Britt., and Dict. Nat. Biog.)

Alianore of Castile, his Queen, will be specially mentioned shortly.

Richard, Earl of Cornwall, younger brother of Henry III., died 1272, was buried at Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian house