Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-21
Hurled forst INSTRUMENTATION.

Inc London HtHeNUUW OF march
18th says: On Saturday last, the 9th in
slant, IN interesting discovery was made
in Lincoln Minister. The pavement Of
the retro-choir, which had sunk much
in places and was altogether in dilapi-
dated state, is being relaid preparatory
10 the use of that portion Of tine Min
lister for congregational purposes. In
the course of tine repairs the work
men had occasion to raise the slab
which covered the grave Of Bishop
Oliver Sutton. who occupied the see
from 1880 to 1899. On the right side
of the modering skeleton we're found a
silyer-glt chalice and paten; and be-
tween the bones of the legs, having
slipped from the finger, was large gold
ring set with rock crystal. The sacred
vessels were still standing upright rs
they had been originally placed, the pa
ten laid upon the chalice and the whole
covered with a piece OF fine linen about
seven or eight inches square, which,
when first seen, was hanging IN graceful
folds all round, but on the admission OF
he air soon fell to pieces. The chalice
closely resembles that from Ber-
wick 81. James Willis, now in
the British Museum, figured in Mr..
John Hopes paper in the Arch0io1ical
Journal vol. kin, page l42) 1t is A.
inches high the bowl, which is broad
and shallow. being / inches in diameter
Il inches deep. 1t has a slight quasi
lip round the circumference. The foot
is circular, of the same diameter as the
bowl There is bold knop projecting
half an inch from the stem. The
chalice was made in three pieces, the
bowl being soldered on, and the knop,
with a ring below supporting 1t, riveted
TO the stem. The gliding is brilliant on the
inside of the bowl. but is much corroded
on the exterior OF the chalice. The whole
is entirely destitute of ornamontation.
The paten is also plain, with the excep-
ton Of the customary " NaRus Det "
raised in benedlction in the central de-
preston, winch, as well as the outer de-
preston, is circular, uncusped. The
paten is 4 inches in diameter. The
ring is OF pure gold. p carats fine, and
as bright after the dirt was washed from
it as the day it was first put on. 10 still
bears the marks Of the Furnishing. 1t
is set with a very large piece OF clear
rock-crystal. It IS not unlikely that 1t
was funeral ring made for the Bishops
obseauies. On the left side Of the skele-
ton was a much-decayed crozier, the
head of which had been beautifully
carved with maple leaves. The staff had
cornn1etalv rofted awav
The skeleton of the Bishop was fairly
perfect, but the head had entirely dis
appeared, there being no yestiges OF the
skull or teeth. A considerable quantity
Of hair of brownish color approaching
red marked the place where the head
had been. The head-rest was perfect,
being formed of a block Of oak two feet
by six inches, entirely cased in lead,
supporting a decayed woollen cushion.
The vestments of the corpse were com
pletely decayed, only the outline being
visible.
The receptacle of the body was not, as
is commonly the case. stone coffin
bewn out to receive the corpse. but rec
tanguar chest, built up Of dressed
stones, entirely lined with lead and
covered with large sheet Of the same
metal, strengthened by transverse iron
bars one foot six inches apart. by this
were laid slabs of Lincoln stone. with a
layer of rough stones and sand above
them, and over all the Bishops memo
nal slab OF Purbeck marble, which
through the lapse of time had been much
decayed and fractured If this slab, as is
probable, once bore the name and epitaph
of Bishop Sutton, the decay OF the mate
rial had long since obliterated them.
There is no mention of this tomb or its
inscription in Dugdale and Sandersons
"Survey Of the Monuments OF Lincoln
Minister" taken before the Great Re-
belhon. The dimensions OF the stone
cist were z feet inches long, 2 feet s
inches wide, foot 10 inches deep. The
covering slab lay foot Z inches below
the level of the pavement. The cbalice,
paten, and ring are being carefully pre-.
served by the Dean and chapter and will
be added to the museum OF such relics
in the library.