vertical joints were raked out, and here and there a stone of modern date which had been inserted was removed, and the core of the walls raked out, and the walls thoroughly saturated with water the day before the grouting was done. The walls, I may explain, are built of large coursed stones inside and out, with no bonding stones, the interior of the wall being filled with a rubble core, which had crumbled to dust. The grouting was repeated on the north, south, and east walls of the chancel up to the arcading. At this level the walls were more unsound. At the south-east corner the stones had shifted 2in. to 3in. from their position. The corner was therefore shored, four stones on the south side were taken down, the perished core was removed, copper ties in. × in., about 5ft. long, were laid in the interior of the wall, cross and cross, hard bonding stones were built into the middle of the wall, every crevice was grouted with Portland cement, and the facing stones re-bedded. The east and north walls were similarly grouted and tied together with copper ties, but it was not found necessary to remove any stones. The Saxon builders had selected their stones with admirable judgment, and it was necessary to substitute only one new stone in the walls. The gable of the east wall is thinner and is built solid without It was necessary to point this only. a core. The copings throughout have been repaired and pointed, the flat surfaces of all string-courses and other protections have been covered with a weathered cement fillet. The walls of the chancel are now quite sound, and the foundations and those of the north porch quite secure. NOTES ON SOME WILTSHIRE MERCHANTS' MARKS. By T. H. BAKER. The Rev. J. A. Lloyd, late Vicar of Mere,1 made a collection of Merchants' Marks, with the intention of writing a paper on the subject, but being prevented by illness, has handed over the material for publication in this Magazine. Although the list of those relating to Wiltshire is by no means exhaustive, yet it forms a valuable nucleus for a complete collection, containing the greater part of those existing in the southern part of the county. Mr. Lloyd says "The practice of each merchant to affix a distinguishing mark to his bales of goods was necessary, when people could neither read nor write, but they would be able to recognise a mark. These marks were in general use in the thirteenth, fourteenth fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They often exhibit the cross and banner of the Agnus Dei; sometimes a monogram seems to be intended. They were formed under no fixed rules, the marks really depending upon the fancy of the merchant. They were used by the better class of shopkeepers, and not confined to foreign traders or owners of vessels, and they were hereditary, a distinguishing difference being taken by various branches of the family. Merchants placed their marks upon their houses and on shields in Churches, as in Mere, Wilts, and they are to be found amongst the coats of arms of those promoting the restoration of Churches. This is noticed in "Piers Plowman's Creed" in the fourteenth century:— Wyde wyndowes y-wrought Shynen with shapen sheldes, With markes of Merchauntes Mo than twentie and two Twyse ynoumbbred." The Society is indebted to the Rev. J. A. Lloyd for the kind gift of the three blocks illustrating this paper. They are found on rings, seals, oak chests, doors, windows, and panels of old houses, painted on windows, and engraved on brasses. They were used on the Continent and by wine merchants in Oporto and Lisbon. When the younger sons of the nobility or others bearing arms engaged in trade, they often had on their tombs their paternal coat of arms as well as their merchant's mark, impaled or on separate shields. In 1459 one Robert Thompson was appointed tokener to seal all cloths called Norwich cloth with a lead seal or token after being found of correct measurement, and the woollen weavers were obliged to bring in a roll of the names of their craft with each man's token, by which the goodness of the cloth might be known by the mark as the measurement was by the token. Sometimes the Merchant Adventurers Arms, or the arms of the city company to which the merchant belonged are found in connection with his mark." The accompanying plates contain Merchants' Marks, the majority of which are to be found on the seals attached to deeds belonging to the Corporation of Salisbury, but it by no means follows that the seal contains the mark of the person who executed the deed, as it is evident in many cases that it was engraved for his ancestors. The Rev. E. E. Dorling, late incumbent of Burcombe, drew to uniform size the whole of the marks engraved for this paper. A KEY TO THE PLATES. Unless otherwise stated these are from seals attached to documents amongst the municipal records, Salisbury. In this list the persons to whom I have assigned the marks are, in many cases, not the persons using the seal and executing the documents. On the other hand, where the seal itself gives no evidence to the contrary, it is assumed that it belongs to the person using it on the document. This attribution, however, must not be regarded as always certain. Around this is inscribed SIG. AEDELEFVZ* IEOAVY1 Isabella de Lavington is inscribed round this Johis Gillingham. Thomas le Eyr executes this document but it will be observed the initials on the mark are I. E. Reginald Tudeworth. Mayor 1297, 1306, 1310, 1312. M.P. for Salisbury, 1306. 16. 1392. ? 1416. Andrew Fostebury. 1431. Richard Gatour, of New Sarum. Mayor 1430-1. M.P. 1433. 1431 and 1443. John Noyle, of Sarum. 17.- 1447. William Devenysh. Silversmith. 18.- 1474. John Wyse. Draper. Mayor 1460, 1461, 1470. Church, Salisbury, on the beams and in the east window of south aisle. He was mayor 1444, 1454, and 1477. M.P., 1460. 21. circa 1500. Webbe. Wool merchant. On a corbel in the library of the Church House, Salisbury, and in St. Thomas' Church. 1 The impression of this seal is very indistinct but apparently is as here given. It is attached (without the horizontal line at the bottom) t documents of Reginald de Tudeworth. |