The inscription is also given in Hübner's Inscriptiones Latina, published at Berlin in 1873. Written in full it would doubtless be this :

Victoria

Legionis Sextæ Victricis

(or Legio Sexta Victrix)
Valerius Rufus

Votum Solvit Libens (or Lætus) Merito.

And it means that Valerius Rufus, an officer or soldier of the corps, had willingly presented this statue in fulfilment of a vow to Victory."

Dr. Whittaker adds, "Valerius Rufus, whose name occurs nowhere else among the inscriptions of Roman Britain, may be supposed to have been an officer of rank in the Sixth Legion; and that the arm of this vote had in all probability been broken off and lost in one of their marches from York, their stated quarters, to Manchester, where the altar to Fortune proves them to have been occasionally stationed."

"These images of Victory were frequently of gold, and in great military processions were borne by a boy elevated on the shoulders of men. The statue to which this arm belonged must have been about two feet high, and therefore of a proper size for the purpose which has been described. Any misfortune which befel these palladia of the camp was held to be extremely ominous, and the loss of this arm and label must have spread consternation through the whole Legion to which it belonged."

The gold ring was found at Ribchester, and the same historian says of it :"I have a gold ring found here some years since set with a cornelian with many faces. It has a dove in the centre, and around it the words,

the present, as it would seem, of a lover to his mistress."

Both these valuable relics are now in the possession of General Gillespie, at Trewyn House, Abergavenny; they having descended to his wife, who is the historian's great grand-daughter.

A very curious piece of ancient glass, which is believed to be Roman, was also shown. It appears to be blue with a peacock lustre in places from reflected light, but on looking through it the colour was seen to be really of a light yellowish-green.

HEREFORD CASTLE AND APPURTENANCES.

Mr. James W. Lloyd, of Kington, then brought to the notice of the Club a series of most interesting papers relating to the "Ruinous Castle of Hereford, with its yards, ditches, trenches, herbage, &c.," one of the letters from Edward Harley being dated from Trewyn, which he occupied at that time. These papers showed that the Castle of Hereford and its appurtenances had been granted by King Charles to Gilbert North 2nd Oct. 5 Car. I. (1630). From Gilbert North it

was conveyed in December of the same year to William Page. From William Page it was again conveyed to John Birch, 1st Aug. 22 Car. I. (1646).

Mr. Lloyd then produced the actual Deed of Conveyance, dated 12th April 23 Car I. (1647) from John Birch to Sir Robert Harley, Edward Harley, Walter Kirle, Bennet Hoskins, Edmund Weaver, and William Crowther, Esquires, in consideration of £600 paid to John Birch, with interest at eight per cent :-"Bargained and sold, unto and for publique use and benefitt, and behoofe, and advantage of the countie of Hereford and the inhabitants thereof." This deed is signed by "Ro. Harley " and "John Birch."

Then came a survey of the "Scyte of the Ruinous Castle of Hereford, &c.," dated 14th December, 1652. It is estimated at "five acres and a half," and to be "worth £VI 10s.-grosse value £85." Other papers referred to orders of Hereford County Sessions, dated 1649, relating to a great sum of money due to the county for "disbanding Coll. Birch's Regiment of horse and ffoot." Other papers dated 1653-referred to Militia money-showed that " 'Great part of the store of the castle was disposed to the College of Hereford to build their new dining hall, and somme to the citty of Hereford to build the Tolsey." "The gravell of the Castle Mount hath been disposed off by order of Sessions." "The county doth pay the rent of xxs yearly to the King reserved upon the patent of King Charles I. to Sir Gilbert North." "At the county charge there hath been, by order of Sessions, a house built upon the old gate of the Castle for the keeping of the records of the county." In 1668, Orders of Sessions relating to this deed. In 1682, in answer to the petition of a certain Griffith Reynolds (often referred to under the name of Africus), the Surveyor-General reports against it, and states "that the fee farm rent of xxs p. an. had been paid constantly to the sheriff of the said county of Hereford," &c.*

It would appear that Sir Robert Harley had himself advanced the £600 purchase money paid to John Birch, which sum, with 8 per cent. interest, remained unpaid up to the time of Edward, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1748), when his lordship "for and consideration of ye great regard and affection which he beareth to and for his native county, the said county of Hereford, and for diverse other good causes and considerations him thereunto moving, doth hereby exonerate and discharge, so far as in him lyeth, the said premises and every part thereof from the said £600 and all interest," granting the same to the Justices of the Peace for the county. Another paper referred to the sale by auction at the New Inn, Hereford, 25th September, 1800, of the old Bridewell, with garden and premises, &c., being part of and appurtenant to the old Castle of Hereford. It was sold for £500 to H. Hawkins. The Castle Green was for many years in the possession of an amusing society called "The Society of Tempers," as tenants under the county magistrates. This society was instituted in Hereford in the year 1752, for the promotion of amiability and good temper, and it was dissolved November 4th, 1831, in consequence of the non-renewal of the lease of the Castle Green. The

*See Duncumb's History of Hereford, and the antiquities of the County, Vol. I. pp. 286 to 288, where this Survey is printed in full, and for Plate of Castle from Speed's Map, see Vol. I.,

p. 229.

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dissolution was signed by Thomas Bird, 1795, Samuel Carless, 1795, John Duncombe, 1802, C. Holloway, 1808, and William Cooke, 1811, the dates being those of their respective admissions. There might be sufficient scope for the existence of such a society in these days.

The following notes are furnished by our member Mr. James W. Lloyd, of Kington, who has the minute book of the society in his possession.

"THE SOCIETY OF TEMPERS."

This book (Vol. II.) commences with the following memorandum :"1786. December 20th.-Recd of Revd. Dr. Allen four shillings and sixpence for this book. "Pd me W. PARKER." "Memor'dum.-The Society of Tempers was instituted in the year 1752. The first members were Dr. Campbell, Dr. Allen, Capt. Rodd, Mr. Cold batch, Mr. Clark, Mr. Holland, Mr. Wild. Dr. Campbell admitted president, 28th November, 1770; treasurer, 14th Feb., 1760." (Then follow a list of members, residents, and non-residents.)

The Society held their meetings up to 5th November, 1793, at the Bowling Green. An interval of 12 months appears to have then taken place, and at a general meeting held on Tuesday, the 4th day of November, 1794, it was resolved "that this Society be removed from the Bowling Green to the 'Swan and Falcon,' and that the meetings be there regularly held once in every month, instead of six weeks." Between the 5th August and 9th September 1795, the name of the "Swan and Falcon was changed to the "City Arms." After 15th December, 1797, till 12th March, 1818, the meetings are described as being held sometimes at "The Hotel," and sometimes at the "City ; then at the " Aylstone Hill Coffee House." and "The Sun."

Arms

The following were the various officers of the Society, viz., president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, chaplain, undertaker, recorder, bell ringer, champion, examiner, gamekeeper, English interpreter, remembrancer or admonisher, and stoker.

In addition to the original rules, a copy of which I append, various minor rules were adopted at different meetings, but as these mainly relate to fines for non-attendance, &c., they are of little interest.

The following extracts from different minutes, possess points of interest or curiosity:

:

"5th November, 1789.-Resolved that this Society do annually dine together, upon the 5th November, in commemoration of the glorious revolution.' (The usual dinner consisted of a chine

of beef, and fish, to be on the tables precisely at 3 o'clock.)

4th November, 1795.-The Society being informed by letter from the Clerk of the Peace that it is the wish of the acting magistrates of this county to grant a lease of the Castle Green for 21 years to any three or more members, in trust for the whole, at the same rent that they now hold the same. It is resolved that the secretary be desired to write to the Clerk of ye Peace, requesting that such leave be granted to Francis Campbell, their president, W. Allen, D.D., their vice-president, Richard Underwood, clerk, their examiner, and William Allen, jun., their secretary, in trust for the society and the citizens of Hereford."

"9th December, 1801.-It was resolved that, in consequence of the high price of provisions, each member shall pay one shilling, who eats supper. At this meeting it was resolved that our President, Francis Campbell, M.D., be requested to sit for his portrait to be taken by Mr. Oliver, at the expense of this society; that underneath the portrait, upon a block in the frame, be written the words-Francis Campbell, M D., President of the Tempers Society,' and upon the canvas at the back of the portrait, be written-'The Society of Tempers was instituted at Hereford, in the year 1752. Dr. Campbell was one of its first members. He was elected Treasurer in the year 1760, and President on the 28th November, 1770. At the request of this Society, as a mark of their particular esteem and regard, he sat for his portrait in the month of November, 1801, in the 77th year of his age. (It is to be hoped the loan of this portrait may be obtained for the projected exhibition of "Herefordshire Worthies.")*

*With reference to Dr. Campbell, Mr. W. J. Humfrys gives the information that he lived at Holmer, and that his portrait, in oil, painted by A. J. Oliver, with the above inscription at the back, is now in excellent preservation, and in the possession of his great grandson, Mr. Bowle Evans, of Bylett's, now residing at Cheltenham.