Evans, Esq., F.S.A., for his able and persevering researches in this branch of its study. He found the Ancient British Series a disjointed, neglected chaos; by his labour and intelligence he has reduced it almost into chronological order from the period of Tasciovanus and Comius.

III.

ELIAS ASHMOLE, HIS HOUSE AND LANDS
AT SOUTH LAMBETH.

IN A LETTER FROM G. R. CORNER, Esq., F.S.A., To JOSHUA
W. BUTTERWORTH, Esq., F.S.A.

READ AT THE GENERAL MEETING HELD AT LAMBETH PALACE, 31ST OCTOBER, 1856.

DEAR SIR,-I send you for inspection at the meeting of the Surrey Archæological Society, which His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury has been so good as to permit us to hold at his palace of Lambeth, three deeds executed by Elias Ashmole, the celebrated antiquary and natural philosopher, the first of which is a conveyance from Robert Siderfin, of the Middle Temple, gentleman, brother and heir of Thomas Siderfin, late of the Middle Temple, esquire (the author of Siderfin's Reports), to John Dugdale, of Coventry, esquire (son of Sir William Dugdale, and brother of Ashmole's wife), of a moiety of a house, garden, and orchard, at South Lambeth, in trust for Ashmole, and such person or persons as he should appoint by deed or will; and the others are a lease and release, being a settlement made by Ashmole of the entirety of the same house, garden, and orchard, with other lands at South Lambeth, on his third wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Sir William Dugdale).

The first deed is dated 14th July, 34th Charles II., 1682 and it appears from that deed that Ashmole had obtained a term of 500 years in a moiety of the

house, garden, and orchard, by assignment from Rebecca Blackamore, of London, widow, dated the 26th of September, 1681; and that the freehold reversion which was vested in Henry Wickham, of Ipswich, Clerk, had been conveyed by him to Thomas Siderfin, a trustee nominated by Ashmole; which trust by the deed before us was transferred to John Dugdale. This deed is executed by Robert Siderfin and Elias Ashmole, and duly attested; but the seals are broken, and they consist merely of lumps of wax covered with paper and showing no impression.

The lease and release are dated 25th and 26th June, 2nd James II., A.D. 1686; and the release is made between Elias Ashmole, of South Lambeth, Esquire, of the one part, and Sir John Dugdale, of the City of Coventry, Knt., and William Thursby, of the Middle Temple, Esquire, of the other part; and thereby the said Elias Ashmole conveyed to Sir John Dugdale and Thursby, "ALL that messuage or tenement, together with a parcel of land or orchard thereto belonging, containing by estimation one acre, and a close or parcel of land with a barn or stable thereon, called 'Smith's Close,' containing by estimation two acres and a half; and a close called Forty-pence,' containing by estimation one acre, and another piece of land containing by estimation. four acres, lying in South Lambeth field, and a close containing by estimation two acres and a half, called 'Part of the Five Acres,' and another close called 'Thorpe Close,' containing by estimation nine acres; all lying within the liberties, precincts, or territories of South Lambeth, alias Lambe-hithe,' in the county of Surrey; and then or late were in the tenure or occupation of Richard Nightingall, his under-tenants or assigns To HOLD the same to Sir John Dugdale and