THE ANTIQUARY’S BOOKS

Messrs. Methuen have commenced the issue of a series of volumes dealing with various branches of English Antiquities.

It is confidently hoped that these books will prove to be comprehensive and popular, as well as accurate and scholarly; so that they may be of service to the general reader, and at the same time helpful and trustworthy books of reference to the antiquary or student. The writers will make every endeavour to avail themselves of the most recent research.

The series is edited by the well-known antiquary, J. Charles Cox, LL.D., F.S.A., Member of the Royal Archæological Institute, and Corresponding Member of the British Archæological Association. Each book will be entrusted to an expert in the selected subject, and the publishers are fortunate in having secured the services of distinguished writers.

A special feature is made of the illustrations, which will vary, according to the requirement of the subjects, from 50 to 150. Some will be in colour. The type is large and clear, the length of each volume is about 320 pages, and the size is demy 8vo. The volumes are issued at the price of 7s. 6d. net.

THE FIRST VOLUMES ARE

ENGLISH MONASTIC LIFE

ABBOT GASQUET, O.S.B., D.D., Ph.D., D.Litt.

“The ‘Antiquary’s Books’ makes an excellent commencement in the first volume, entitled ‘English Monastic Life,’ and written by Dom Aidan Gasquet. It is in outward respects a shapely demy octavo in scarlet cloth, well printed, illustrated with thirty or forty plates, and supplemented with a lengthy list of ancient religious houses in England.”—Pall Mall Gazette.

“The publishers have been fortunate in securing the services of the Rev. Dr. Cox, one of the most learned and painstaking of antiquaries, as general editor of the series, and they have been equally fortunate that a subject such as monastic life should have been dealt with by Abbot Gasquet, than whom there is no greater authority. Antiquarian books too often are as dry as matchwood, but there is no reason why they should be so, and the present volume abundantly testifies to this. The learned abbot has throughout written his history in a popular and attractive manner. He is never wearisome, but, on the contrary, invariably entertaining, and, what is of more consequence, always informing.”—Birmingham Post.

“This delightful book, so full of quaint learning, is like a painted window, through which, if one looks, one may see the old world of the Middle Ages as that world must have shown itself to a monk.”—Daily News.

“Curiously interesting and highly instructive.”—Punch.

“An extremely interesting summary of the laws which governed the religious and domestic life in the great monasteries.”—Yorkshire Post.

REMAINS OF THE PREHISTORIC AGE IN ENGLAND

B. C. A. WINDLE, D.Sc., F.R.S.

“It gives a tabulated list of such remains; divided into counties, and subdivided into earthworks, barrows, camps, dykes, megalithic monuments, and so on, with detailed explanations; to these are added a list of museums in which specimens of prehistoric remains are preserved. Confining himself almost entirely to accepted facts in the science of archæology, the Professor devotes no more space to what he describes as theory spinning about the dates of various epochs than is necessary to present the subject with completeness, especially on its geological side. Mrs. Windle’s excellent illustrations throughout the volume add greatly to its value.”—Yorkshire Post.

“The whole forms an adequate introduction to a most fascinating subject.”—Westminster Gazette.

“A comprehensive account of the material relics of the prehistoric period in England.”—Manchester Guardian.

“The book offers a valuable digest of ascertained facts in relation to the subject treated of. It is well up to date, and the author has generally confined himself to fairly recognised facts rather than allow himself to indulge in theorising.”—Yorkshire Observer.

OLD SERVICE BOOKS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH

CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, M.A., and HENRY LITTLEHALES

“It is infinitely more than a fascinating book on the treasures of past ages. It is the history of the making of a great and living book. The illustrations are most beautifully reproduced.”—St. James’s Gazette.

“The third of the promising series of ‘Antiquary’s Books’ is certain to be much appreciated. Scholars will find that its pages are thoroughly trustworthy. The introduction yields a great deal of unusual knowledge pertaining to the subject. The illustrations are exceptionally numerous and creditable in execution for a book of moderate price, and are reproductions in facsimile from English originals. All save two are, we believe, given here for the first time.”—Athenæum.

“The subject is discussed and explained in these pages in the true spirit of antiquarian tenderness; and an admirable assortment of illustrations, some of them in colours, adds a vivid note of life and actuality to the learned authors’ work.”—Academy.

CELTIC ART IN PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN TIMES

J. ROMILLY ALLEN, F.S.A.

“Unquestionably the greatest living authority on the Celtic Archæology of Great Britain and Ireland, he writes as only a master of his subject can. An admirable piece of work.”—St. James’s Gazette.

“The letterpress and pictures are remarkably good throughout: both author and publishers are to be congratulated on the issue of so attractive and useful a book.”—Athenæum.

“A luminously written record, with excellently well drawn and selected illustrations.”—Manchester Guardian.

“An admirable summary of a large field illustrated with a series of beautiful plates.”—Spectator.

SHRINES OF BRITISH SAINTS

J. CHARLES WALL

“Shrines of British Saints” deals with a class of monuments which, throughout the Middle Ages, was of magnetic attraction, largely governing the social and religious life of the nation, but which has all but ceased to exist in the British Isles. From illumined page and fragmentary sculpture the style and structure of shrines is here set forth. The art bestowed upon them, the influence they had upon the designs of cathedrals and great churches, and the legends surrounding them, form a subject of no mean value in the life of Englishmen.

ARCHÆOLOGY AND FALSE ANTIQUITIES

ROBERT MUNRO, M.D., LL.D.

The main object of this work is to show how modern methods of Comparative Archæology may be utilised as a means of detecting erroneous conclusions, whether founded on imperfect observations, false statements, or the actual forgery of objects. A brief account is given of a number of discoveries in various parts of the world which have become the subject of controversy, as well as some notable forgeries. Then follows a criticism of the so-called “idols,” “totems,” “churingas,” etc., recently found in the Clyde valley, which are still the subject of acute controversy. The concluding chapter deals with the lessons to be derived from the above narrative of the results of ignorance, fraud, and imposture.

THE MANOR AND MANORIAL RECORDS

NATHANIEL J. HONE

The reader is here presented with a graphic picture of the Manor as it existed in England from an early period till the social changes of the seventeenth century. The manor-house and the manorial estate are fully described. The relations between the lord and his tenants, the customs of the manor, the duties of officers and servants, the routine of work, and the ancient system of husbandry, rights of common and inclosures are each in turn dealt with. Examples of the various classes of Manorial Records, as Court Rolls, Bailiff’s Accounts and Extents, are given from original sources. A list of existing Court Rolls with their place of deposit and a Bibliography of Manorial literature form an Appendix to the volume, which is illustrated by facsimiles, plans, and views.

SEALS

J. HARVEY BLOOM, M.A.

This manual traces the evolution of the seal in England in a series of sections. The principal of these deal with seals of the sovereign and those of royal courts, etc.; the seals of archbishops; courts ecclesiastical; those of the peers of the realm; and ladies of rank; seals of the bishops and clergy; those of county families, knights, and squires. The second main division covers seals of corporations, monastic houses, universities, trading gilds, towns, schools, and so forth. Under these sections the seals of individuals are grouped as far as possible in types, and it is hoped that the volume will form a useful guide to the age, artistic merit, etc., of these beautiful works of art, which have been far too much neglected. No work of the kind has hitherto been produced, and it will be seen from it how the seal engraver’s art is a reflex of the opinion of the time. The power of the sovereign, his style and titles, the progress of religious thought, the rise and development of the science of heraldry, and of Gothic art, are all seen, so that the study is not one that can be lightly put aside by workers in the by-paths of history, theology, or art. The illustrations have been specially drawn from the original seals by Mr. Constance Canning, and are very carefully and finely executed.

THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND

J. C. COX, LL.D., F.S.A.

The object of these pages is to set forth both the general and particular history of the wastes preserved for royal sport throughout England which were under forest law. Short accounts of all these forests are given, and in certain cases, such as Sherwood Forest, the Forest of the High Peak, Needwood Forest, Cranborne Chase, the forests of Northamptonshire, Cheshire, and Oxfordshire, Windsor Forest, Clarendon Forest, Dartmoor, and Pickering Lythe, much of their story is told in detail. It will be found that by far the larger portion of the book deals with original material, chiefly culled from the stores of the Public Record Office. The introductory chapters give an outline description of the laws, courts, and ministers of the forests, together with considerable fresh information as to red, fallow, and roe deer, wild boar, wolf, and other beasts of the chase or warren. The punishment inflicted by forest courts for “vert,” as well as “venison” offences, together with accounts of wood sales, bring to light much that pertains to the earlier tree-lore of England. The book is illustrated by a variety of reproductions from old MSS. and early printed books, as well as by old plans, foresters’ gravestones, and ancient trees.

CHURCH FURNITURE

J. C. COX, LL.D., F.S.A., and A. HARVEY, M.B.

In these pages far fuller accounts than have yet been attempted are given, from the earliest examples down to the end of the seventeenth century, of such extant objects as altars, altar-stones, holy tables, altar rails, sedilia, aumbries, piscinas, holy water stoups, Easter sepulchres, gospel lecterns, pulpits, both of wood and stone, hour-glasses, candlesticks, chests, and poor-boxes. Particular attention has been bestowed upon screens, stalls, bench-ends, and seats. Fonts and font covers are treated with considerable fulness. A short account is given of altar-plate, including pyxes, censors, and paxes. Among the exceptional curiosities of later days, the several instances of those remarkable instruments, the “vamping horns,” are set forth, and various noteworthy examples of early royal arms and Tables of Commandments are specified. Tentative lists, classified according to date, are given of the known examples of these different objects of church furniture throughout England. The illustrations are numerous, and for the most part original, or specially drawn for this work.

THESE VOLUMES WILL FOLLOW

FOLK-LORE IN EARLY BRITISH HISTORY

G. LAWRENCE GOMME, F.S.A.

THE ROMAN OCCUPATION

JOHN WARD, F.S.A.

CASTLES AND WALLED TOWNS OF ENGLAND

ALFRED HARVEY, M.B.

THE DOMESDAY SURVEY

ADOLPHUS BALLARD, B.A., LL.B.

THE BRASSES OF ENGLAND

HERBERT W. MACKLIN, M.A.

ENGLISH HERALDRY

T. SHEPARD

MEDIÆVAL CHURCH LIFE IN ENGLAND

ABBOT GASQUET, O.S.B., D.D., Ph.D., D.Litt.

VILLAGE GEOGRAPHY

W. RYLAND D. ADKINS, B.A.

Other Volumes are in course of arrangement.

METHUEN & CO., 36 ESSEX STREET, STRAND, W.C.