FORFor the Cornelian Signets, see the Roman Antiquities. A very ancient and small Stone to be set in a Ring 1 h x, which I take to be the old Cypher for Jesus, the only Difficulty is in the later, which is S or C: But when I had the Honour (in Company of the Learned Dr. Gale) to be known to his Excellency Baron Spanheim, then Ambasador from the King of Prussia to K. William, I presently learned that x is very often used for S, not only upon some ancient Coins, but Marbles. A large Copper Oval with IHS, in modern Characters, with the Cross above and wounded Head and Nails below, the whole surrounded with Rays of Glory. But this seems rather designed to make Wafers for the Eucharist, or perhaps for the Impression upon certain Books. A Seal in a smaller Oval with the Portraiture of St Margaret inscribed in obsolete Characters Saunca Margaretta. It was an early Custom among the Christians to have the Names and Pictures of their Tutelar Saints cut upon their Signets. The Seal of the Gray-Friars at Bedford, tho' found at Ardington Nunnery in Yorkeshire: It is inscribed S. Communitatis: Frm: minor Bedfordi. (Don. D. Sam. Ibbetson Merc. Leod.) The Seal of the Prioress of Tuba, round the Virgin Mary with her Son is inscribed S (for Sigillum, as in the former) Helisadis porisse de Tuba. This, and the former are Oval, what follows are Circular. A large one of Copper with the Angel Gabriel, and the Salutation, ┼ Ave Maria Gracia plena, Dominus tecm tecum. Another with the Virgin and our Saviour with this Legend, ┼ Virgo Pudica Pia, nostri miserere Maria. These three were sold amongst old Metal, but preserved for me by Mr. Sam. Smith Bell-Founder at Yorke, with two lesser of later Dates, one hath the Duke of Yorke's Head with D Y under a Ducal Coronet. The other a Talbot upon a Wreath under a Viscount's. A small one but more ancient, hath Z between two Crosses, inscribed, Gurdon de Pontfrac: Sent me by the Reverend Mr. Lascels Lecturer at Pontfract. A Brass Seal Ring found at Kirkstal-Abbey, but seems not very ancient; it hath a Demi-Lion upon a Tower. Don. D. Jo. Rontree Alderm. Leod.

A Plate of the Palmetto-Leaf writ upon, or more properly engraved or impress'd with a Stile; it is above half a Yard long, and but an Inch broad: Others, not writ upon, are an Inch and half deep, and near 12 in Length; these by a Hole punched at both Ends appear to have been designed for a Book, and to be filed upon Strings. A small Writing or Ticket upon a darker coloured Paper-Reed from the Bay of Bengall Of a different one from Malabar, see the various Editions of the Bible. The Chinese Characters and Language upon transparent Paper, with two Pictures. Indian Writing upon different Sorts of Paper with Red Ink and Black, one in Gold upon blew made up into a Fan, of which and others upon a Cane, see before. A different Character upon white Paper. An Example of the Sclavonian Character in a Roll of Paper about 14 Foot long. Don. D. Sam. Ibbetson Merc. A Book or Scroll of 17 Yards two Foot long, wrap'd up in Quarto eight Inches broad, from Onar in the Kingdom of Canara in the East-Indies; it is to be writ upon with a Slate Pen. Don. D. Tho. Wilson Merc. Part of a Letter writ by the King of Bantam upon a reddish Paper. Don. D. Sa. Speering. Several Lines in Arabick writ in the Lord H.'s Lodgings in Cambridgeshire, An. 1700, by Hamet Cardanash, Ambassador from the Emperor of Moroco. Don. D. Jac. Talbot D. D. An Autograph of Seraphim's, a Native Græcian, whose Translation of the New Testament into modern Greek, was printed Anno 1693. Don. Rev. Jo. Hardy. A Jewish Philactery in Hebrew, in a single Scroll of Parchment, with the four Sentences of the Law mentioned by Dr. Grew, amongst the Curiosities of the Royal Society, writ at my Request, and given by that learned Gentlewoman, Mrs. Eliz. Bland of Beeston in this Parish, who hath taught that Primitive Language (wherein she was instructed by the Lord Van Helmont) to her Son and Daughter. A Turkish Commission, given me by the said Mrs. Bland, the Paper is thick and smooth, and the Seal very large, viz. three Inches broad, and above half a Foot in Length. The Divan of Algiers's Pass to Sir John Lawson the Admiral 1663, in Arabick gilded. Don. D. Rob. Stephens Arm. This has a small Seal, but note, the Turks seal not with Wax, but Ink; the Emperor's Name being usually written with Flourishes, and in perplexed Characters; nor have they any Coat of Arms upon their Seals, there being no such Thing as Gentility among them. (Dr. Smith's Observa. of Contantinople, Phil. Trans. N° 155.) So the Manx Warrant or Token is not to be understood of one under Hand and Seal upon Paper, but of a blew Slate, about the Bigness of a Crown-Piece,with the Deemsters Mark upon it, which being delivered to the Defendant, he is obliged to appear. (Vide Cambd. Brit. N. E. p. 1066.) This hath upon one Side T S M (Tho. Sodor & Man), and upon the other the Governor's Mark, for the Person charged thereby, being a Soldier, was not to be forced from his Post by any Power but the Governor's. The Right Reverend Bishop of Man, from whom I received this Curiosity, writes they are now as much in Use as ever, and the People pay a readier Obedience to them, than to an Order under Hand and Seal.