Sir, The beautiful coloured drawing which you were pleased to exhibit at the Society [a], is so very curious, in regard to the many singularities which attend it, at least in my eye, that I request your favourable acceptance of a few additional observations upon it.

There are five figures in what we may call the lower compartment of the window at Brereton church, in the county of Chester, and seemingly all knights; and it is true, that in an illumination in a small vellum MS. of a Latin Manual of Prayers, which I have, the assassins are five; the piece confining of them who are all standing, of St. Thomas kneeling at an altar, and of a monk, whom we may suppose to be his chaplain, or cross-bearer, at his side. But nevertheless all history testifies that the murderer of Becket were but four in number. William Fitz-Stephen, who was living at the time, was in the archbishop’s service [b], and no contemptible writer, names but four [c], and most later authors, if not all, agree, I think, in the same [d]; so that the middle and most confpicuous figure in your drawing must needs be intended to represent the martyr himself, though by a most wonderful incongruity, re pugnant to all history, he is pourtrayed with his sword drawn, and clad in armour. We incur no mistake, Sir, in denominating this principal figure the martyr himself, for his name is expressly written on the label under him thus,

Martira Thoma [e] [In Gothic Script]

It is further observable, in respect to the Knights, that the two on the right of the martyr carry their swords in their left hands, which can only be to please the eye of the spectator by making a contrast with the swords of the two figures on the opposite side.

Note a. Engraved in Archoeologia, vol. IX. p. 368.

Note b. Account of Fitz-Stephen prefixed to his Description of London, A. 1772, p. 8.

Note c. Fitz-Stephen, p. 78.

Note d. Rog, Hoveden, p. 521. Annal. Dustap. p. 33. Rad. de Diceto et Gervas. inter X Script, col. 515. 1414. 1672. Dugdale, Baron. 1. p. 678. Lord Lyttelton, Vol. IV. p. 353.

Note e. i. e. Thomam.

The names of the knights on their labels are, Willm' s Traciq . Reginaldus filij Alc [c with tilde above] i [f], nec non Mertilius [g] hugo, Ricardus Bruto [h]; which in the inscription underneath stand thus, "Ricardus Bruto nec non Mertelius hugo Willmus traci Reginaldus filius hici (no doubt for urci, i. e. ursi) Martirm Thomam figri fecere beatum anno milleno centum septuageno," of which the ten latter words, as you truly remark, form two Hexameter verses; but if I be not mistaken, the whole inscription may be thrown into four verses of that species, thus,

Ricardus Bruto, necnon Murtelius Hugo,

Willelmus traci, Reginaldus filius hici,

Martirum [i] Thomam fieri fecere beatum,

Anno Milleno centeno septuageno.

Note f. This certainly fliould be Urci or Ursi, as all authors call him; Caxton also naming him Bereson.

Note g. That is, Morvllle.

Note h. i. e. Brito.

Note i. This is particular both as to the quantity of the middle syllable, and the termination; but the like errors occur often in monkish verses.