viii Journal of Proceedings.
of Greek, Roman and English coins; a large selection from his collection
of fossils ranging from the Silurian to the Newer Pliocene formations; and
a very massive microscope, made many years ago by Powell and Lealand,
and presumed to be one of the two largest instruments in existence.
The Rev. J. Francis showed some relics belonging to the Abbey, discovered
at the time of its restoration in 1860 ; Dr. Priest some skulls and bones of
Deer, Bison, &c, found, while digging the foundations of the New Powder
Mills, in the peat-beds which extend over most of the marshes near the
town ; they were exhumed from the depth of ten or twelve feet, a number
of other bones and horns of Deer, &c, being found at the same time, which
are now in the British Museum ; also a flint axe, and various drawings
and engravings of the Abbey. Mr. Winters, F.R.H.S., brought up a
copy of the foundation charter of the Church of Waltham, dated 1062,
containing names of lordships and witnesses to the grant; a representation
of the great east window of the parish Church of St. Margaret's in West-
minster, which window was removed from Waltham Abbey at the time of
the dissolution; autograph of Dr. T. Fuller, author of ' Church History'
and ' History of Waltham Abbey,' who was a Vicar of the place; fac-
simile of the Domesday Book, and deeds relating to Waltham. Mr.
Fisher Unwin exhibited a large number of interesting plates and drawings
of Waltham Abbey and the Eleanor Cross at Waltham Cross, and some
old county histories ; Mr. Walter Crouch a series of prints illustrating
the architectural details of the Abbey, and the ancient market stocks ;
Mr. Corder some flint implements found near Chelmsford. Other objects
were shown, and, all being carefully labelled and explained by Dr. Priest
and Mr. Wakefield, the whole formed a very interesting collection.
The members and major portion of the visitors sat down to "high tea"
at the "Cock Inn," excellently served by Mr. and Mrs. Giles. After tea
a meeting was held in the "temporary Museum," the President occupying
the chair. He expressed his pleasure in bidding welcome, on the part of
the Council, to those present at that their first Field Meeting of the
season, and hoped it would be the first of a series of equally successful
meetings and a good omen of the future (Applause). The Chairman then
introduced Mr. Birch, who gave some further details concerning the
Abbey Church, commencing his paper by observing that, in the present
age, facts which had been believed in for generations were subjected to
searching criticism, to discover flaws and to raise doubts. It was not his
intention to raise any doubts then. He would ask them to accept as a
fact that Harold really lived and was buried at Waltham Abbey, and by
thus begging the question he would dispose of a quantity of matter with
which they had little to do in describing the building in question, which
was anciently known to pious worshippers as the Church of the Holy
Cross at Waltham. Harold was not the real founder of this famous
Abbey. To discover who that founder was, we must transport ourselves
to a good half century previous to Harold's time. About the year 1000
there was a great religious enthusiasm. That year was devoutly