forest to Court, and in bringing the children demanded by the King of England as tribute of King Mark; and on another King Richard is springing on the lion and seizing the jaws before tearing out its heart.[1] In other examples a king is represented as seated in state, on a couch, holding converse with damsels or harpers; there are ships crossing the sea; castles with figures; an encounter with a lion; knights engaged in combat; on one tile is a trial by battle; on another is a figure in a ship, to which a second is mounting by a ladder; and a minstrel, reclining in a boat, is playing upon the harp whilst the boat drifts with the current; while one of our illustrations represents a jester on a hobby-horse.
Of minor tiles may be mentioned, an angel, censing; and dragons and fanciful reptiles, and quaint foliage, compose the remainder.
The collection of ancient tiles which thus came into the possession of the Society by the gift of Mr. Shurlock, possesses a high archælogical value to which the attention of the members may advantageously be drawn; and it is to be hoped that while carefully preserved, they may, at some future time, be more generally seen than has hitherto been the case, and so their merits and value will become still better known.
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- ↑ I have to acknowledge, with best thanks, my obligation to Mr. Shurlock for this information.
