Masonic And General Archaeologia.

London , a currier by trade , and prime warden of the Fishmonger ' s Company , struck Wat with his dagger . It had been alleged by some that this was the great reason for the City arms bearing a dagger in the first quarter of its shield to this day . This had , however , since been shown to be incorrect , although it was said that the very dagger in question was still in possession of the Fishmongers' Company . The incident was corroborated in an ancient document , which said

Walworth , Knight , Lord Mayor that slew Rebellious Tyler in his alarms—The King therefore did give in view A dagger for the City arms . Mr . Lambert , proceeding , stated that tournaments were held at Smithfield in the middle ages , ancl it was also known to be a place for hanging criminals .

On the eastern side of Smithfield , Rayhere had erected the hospital of St . Bartholomew , in 1102 , the founder being buried in the churchyard of the church of St . Bartholomew in close proximity . Rayhere was known to have haunted the houses of the nobility , and when on a visit to Rome experienced a so-called vision . He believed that St . Bartholomew appeared to him and told him that he had chosen a place for him in London called Smithfield

, where , in the name of the saint , he was to build a church " to the honour of the Holy Trinity . " Rayhere was the first prior of the church in 1102 . The cloth-fair was also conducted in this locality with an amount of pomp as well as with an amount of uproarious and disgraceful conduct . Mr . White , F . S . A ., while thanking Mr . Lambert for his paper , desired to correct a palpable error with respect to the wet and swampy character of the

soil of Smithfield . It was very well known that in this locality there was plenty of good gravel , ancl it was only where the loam had been removed for brick-making purposes that the water on the surface made it appear boggy . It was a mistake to imagine that this district was naturally difficult to efficiently drain . Mr . Lambert replied that he had referred to the northern side only . Lieut .-Col . Britten desired to know the last occasion when the

" Court of Pie-Powder " for heaving offences , before the dust had left the feet of the plaintiffs and defendants , had been held . He informed the meeting that recently , by the action of Mr . Alderman Stone , a coloured window representing Rayhere ' s vision had been placed in the Guildhall . Mr . Lambert said he believed that the fair or market was held as late as the year 1844 , ancl probabl y the Court disappeared with the fair itself . In reply to the Chairmana

, member remarked that the place where the burning of martyrs took place might be easily remembered by the fact that it was opposite the Clothfair Gate , where the post-office pillar box was now erected . A vote of thanks to Mr . Lambert for his paper terminated the proceedings .

We take the three following extracts from our able ancl interesting contemporary the Antiquary : —• " THE IJIITATIO CHEISTI . "—It may perhaps interest some of your readers who have followed Mr . Waterton ' s excellent contribution to the bibliograph y of " The Imitation" to be reminded that a collection was made of various editions of " that divine book , " and deposited in the library of the Franciscan

Monastery of St . Michele , in Isola , at Venice . Where it may be at this time , and how cared for , I know not , and shall be glad if it is yet kept together . Its history is this . In 1840 John Anthony Mosohini , a canon of St . Mark ' s , bequeathed to the friars of St . Michael his collection of " The Imitation , " which he had begun to form a few years before , with directions for its completion . Its after-history , for twenty years , was not altogether very satisfactory , and need not be entered upon ; but the collection remained at least intact . Rich in Italian ancl Continental editions , it possessed one in English . The dates extended from 1483 to 1840 . These gave as the name