interesting, and the old town is to be congratulated on having found so careful and competent an historian as Mr. Brown. The author has made the most of the somewhat scanty materials that exist for this early period; we do not always agree with his conclusions, but we must respect the thorough way in which he has collected evidence. When an author begins by stating his desire "to distinguish clearly between what we know, what we have every reason to believe, and what is merely based upon speculation, more or less probable," and when we find that he acts up to this excellent dictum, we shall expect to find also that he has produced good work. And we shall not be disappointed in this history of Barton. Mr. Brown has given us a valuable addition to the evergrowing volume of sound local histories. The chief point on which we join issue with the author is the derivation and meaning of place names. In this he seems to follow, somewhat blindly, Mr. Streatfield, who appears to be a somewhat dangerous guide. The evidence adduced in support of Barton having been a Roman station is of the slenderest description, and we disagree with Mr. Brown's conclusions. He falls into the common Domesday trap of the carucate and the caruce, both abbreviated as car'. (p. 67), and he translates vivarium as park, instead of fishpond; while he reads into the common word nuncupata (p. 100), a volume of meaning which takes one's breath away. But all the same the book is a good one, and we look forward with interest to the succeeding volumes. The account of the Battle of Brunanburh, and its much disputed locality, is the best and clearest we have seen, and is very convincing. The extremely interesting church of St. Peter is well described and illustrated, and the various maps and plans are excellent.

NEOLITHIC MAN IN NORTH-EAST SURREY. By Walter Johnson and William Wright. With a Chapter on Flint, by B. C. Polkinghorne, B.Sc., F.C.S. Numerous Illustrations and Maps. Elliot Stock; pp. 200. Cheaper re-issue, 3s. 6d. net.

We are pleased to see that a new issue of this work has been called for; it shows that the number of the public who take an intelligent interest in the study of our prehistoric ancestors is increasing. The area dealt with extends from the Thames on the north to Boxhill and Godstone on the south, and the authors seem to have worked their district very thoroughly. The map shows very clearly British trackways, Roman roads, camps, barrows, hut circles, pile dwellings, and Roman remains. These, in the neighbourhood of south London and other towns, are fast disappearing, and many of them have already been destroyed; the book is therefore particularly useful in placing on record all known sites of antiquarian interest of the Roman period and earlier. The authors have studied the authorities well, as shown by the numerous notes. Indeed, we would impress on all wishing to take up this fascinating study the necessity for copious reading; and this work would make a good first text-book. Mr. Polkinghorne's Chapter on Flint is a valuable addition to the book, and will repay careful study. There is a good index. We would recommend the authors to edit the Chapter on the "Pleasures of Flinting" in the most drastic way. Flippancy is out of place in a scientific work, and to refer to neolithic man as "Mr. Neo" (p. 173), merely produces a feeling of irritation.

THE RISE AND FALL OF READING ABBEY; by Jamieson B. Hurry, M.A., M.D. Elliot Stock; pp. 119; numerous illustrations and plan; 2s. 6d. net.

This is a popular description and guide, based on the author's larger work. It is just what such a guide ought to be, clear, accurate, concise, and not too

technical. The account of monastic life is very readable. The author is inclined to be a little too polemical, and here and there bangs the Protestant big drum in a way that seems rather out of place. By the way, it is misleading to refer to the last Abbat as “Hugh Cook Faringdon," as though he had two Christian names. He is sometimes called by one and sometimes by the other name, but never, we believe, by both, as Dr. Hurry does; and he appears at times as "Faringdon alias Cooke." Dr. Gasquet considers that his name was really Cooke, because he used the arms of that family, and this seems to be conclusive. A capital little book.

MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN THE BEDFORDSHIRE CHURCHES; by Grace Isherwood; with Illustrations drawn by Kitty Isherwood from rubbings by the Authoress. Elliot Stock; pp. 68; 35. 6d.

This is a useful manual, and these ladies have set an example that we should like to see followed in other counties. The parishes are arranged alphabetically, and a list of brasses, fragments, and indents, with a considerable number of explanatory notes on persons and families referred to. Many of the inscriptions are given in full, and here more careful editing is to be desired. The author is rather confused in her terminology; the small dagger worn by knights should be called a "misericorde," not a "miserere"; "tassels fastened by small buckles to the cuirass," and "mail-skirts below skirts of laces," are probably misprints. The heraldry, too, is decidedly weak. The drawings by Miss or Mrs. Kitty Isherwood are clever, but we should have preferred reproductions from the rubbings themselves. It is a pity that a really useful book should be marred by careless editing. We hope to see a second and better edition. It is well worth it.

PEEPS INTO THE PAST, or Bygone City Life, Traditions, Customs and Festivals, by F. E. Tyler. Stockwell; pp. 136; illustrations; 3s. 6d. net.

Here we have a number of London matters treated in a bright and chatty way, and eminently readable. It is "fine, confused feedin'," too, for we are taken through the centuries and back again in somewhat breathless fashion. Perhaps the best chapter is that giving a historical sketch of the commerce of the Thames, but those on Sir Christopher Wren, the Gordon Riots, and "Bart's," are also very good. The book is nowhere dull, and can be recommended to all those who regret the passing of old institutions, and take an interest in the study of bygone manners and customs. Copies may be obtained from the author, 36, Hutton St., E.C., price 35. 10d., post free.

SOME ANTIQUITIES OF MIDDLESEX, in British, Roman, and Saxon times. With maps and illustrations. By Montagu Sharpe. Second edition. Brentford Printing and Publishing Company, Ltd. Pp. 79. 45.

We heartily welcome a second edition of Mr. Sharpe's book. The evidence for these early times is of two kinds, topographical features, whether natural or artificial, and documentary, the latter being scanty and at times confusing. The author deals with these in the only rational way, which, however, is not always followed; he takes his topography first, and written evidence, be it Caesar or Dion Cassius, chronicle or charter, has to fit in with this somehow or other. Authorities may differ as to the meaning of a written document,

but you cannot argue away a ford or a track. Proceeding on these lines, Mr. Sharpe gives us a lucid account of the aspect of Middlesex prior to the Roman invasion, of the movements of the Roman and British armies, of the various camps and battles, of the later Saxon and Danish settlements, and of the evidence of Domesday and the manorial system. The reader is greatly helped by the admirable maps and plans, which are plentifully supplied to him. One of the most valuable points established is the question of the ford by which Caesar crossed the Thames in B.C. 54. Until comparatively lately, most historians have followed Camden and placed the crossing at Cowey Stakes, near Walton. This must, we think, be now finally abandoned. The facts, as marshalled by Mr. Sharpe, are so clearly in favour of Brentford, that the case does not appear to us to admit of further argument. Incidentally, Mr. Sharpe has something to say on Dene Holes; he is of opinion that they were dug with the object of obtaining chalk for agricultural purposes. The book is a valuable contribution to the early history of Middlesex, and will well repay careful study.

THE CLARE MARKET REVIEW. The Student's Magazine of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Vol. I. No. 3. 6d. net.

There is one article in this magazine that will interest all lovers of old London. Mr. S. E. Moffat's paper on “ London Fraternities in the Fourteenth Century." The distinction between the purely trade guilds and those which were primarily religious is very puzzling, because there is no hard and fast line of demarcation. The trade or craft guilds had most of them a religious aspect; while the bulk of the members of the religious fraternities seem to have been craftsmen of some kind or other, although they had no connexion with any particular trade. With the practice of obtaining charters of incorporation for the craft guilds, which began towards the end of the fourteenth century, sprung up a curious jealousy and suspicion of the religious fraternities. It is, perhaps, due to this that the craft guilds inaugurated the system of founding guild chantries, and paying priests to sing masses and obits for deceased members, and perform other services. A curious result of this mixture of the secular and religious appears in a rule against gambling: "If any of the fraternity be found playing at unbefitting games, clothed in the livery, he is to pay for the first offence 1lb. of wax, for the second 2lb. of wax, and after the third offence, if he will not mend his ways, he is to be ousted from the fraternity for ever." The wax, of course, was for candles to burn in the chantry. By the way, we doubt the suggested interpretation of "blader" as a "cornmonger"; is it not more likely to have been a "bladesmith," i.e., a cutler who made sword blades? A most interesting paper.

Books received too late for review in this number:

THE ORIGIN OF THE ANGLO-SAXON RACE. By the late Thomas William Shore. Elliot Stock.

A HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE. By the Rev. Edward Conybeare. Elliot Stock.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON. Methuen & Co.

THE DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN EVELYN. Edited by Henry B. Wheatley, F.S.A. Vol. III. Bickers and Son.