fter this Thurcyl rode to St. Ethelbert's Minster, and by leave and
witness of all the folk caused the transaction to be recorded in a book of
the Gospels."

*An Ancient Chasse or Reliquary* is shown among the treasures of the
cathedral, which was looked upon for a long time as a representation of
the murder of St. Ethelbert, but this is only an example of the many
traditional tales which modern study and research are compelled to
discard. It undoubtedly represents the martyrdom of St. Thomas of
Canterbury. On the lower part is the murder; on the upper, the entombment
of the saint, very similar in style to the later Limoges work of the
thirteenth century.

The Rev. Francis Havergal gives a detailed description, which we have
condensed to the following:--

This reliquary consists of oak, perfectly sound, covered with copper
plates overlaid with Limoges enamel. It is 8-1/4 inches high, 7 long and
3-1/2 broad. The back opens on hinges and fastens with a lock and key, and
the upper part sloped so as to form an acutely-pointed roof; above this is
a ridge-piece; the whole rests on four square feet. Front of Shrine:--Here
are two compartments; the lower one shows on the right side an altar, of
which the south end faces the spectator; it is supported on four legs and
has an antependium. Upon the altar stands a plain cross on a pyramidal
base, and in front of it a chalice covered with a paten. Before, or
technically speaking, in the midst of the altar stands a bishop
celebrating mass, having both hands extended towards the chalice, as if he
were about to elevate it. He has curly hair and a beard and moustache. He
wears a low mitre, a chasuble, fringed maniple, and an alb.

In the top right-hand corner is a cloud from which issues a hand pointing
towards the figure just described.

Behind, to the left, stand three figures. The foremost has just thrust the
point of a large double-edged sword, with a plain cross hilt, through the
neck of the bishop from back to front.

[Illustration: ANCIENT RELIQUARY IN THE CATHEDRAL.]

ANCIENT RELIQUARY IN THE CATHEDRAL.

The upper compartment represents the entombment of the bishop. The middle
of the design is occupied by an altar tomb, into which the body, swathed
in a diapered winding-sheet, is being lowered.

The ends of the bier are supported by two kneeling figures.

On the side of the tomb furthest from the spectator is a bishop or abbot
without t