A BRIEF account of Wendling Abbey, Norfolk, was communicated to the Society in a previous volume of our Papers by the Rev. James Bulwer. The materials that are known for its history or architecture are very slight; and it is there observed that while Dugdale and Tanner and others have only recorded a few names of its abbots, "the seal is not known." (Vol. v. p. 40.) By the kindness of Mr. C. Golding of Romford, with whose contributions to the study of the provincial coinage VOL. VIII.] relating to the Eastern Counties our members are well acquainted, I am enabled to furnish an illustration, from an old drawing, of the Seal, an impression of which may possibly still exist among the documents belonging to the Corporation of Norwich. Mr. Golding obtained the drawing with some manuscripts of Kirkpatrick's of Norwich, and "Tom" Martin's of Palgrave, which came into his possession a few years ago. The date 1456 is probably the date of the document to which the seal was affixed; but the seal itself appears to be considerably earlier. In a memorandum accompanying his drawings of seals, Mr. Golding informs me that he has the following: "The Comon Seal of ye Abbey of Wendling, 27 Edw. 3" (1353), to which is added "In Archiv. Civitať Norwic." Not much reliance can, of course, be placed on the design shewn in the Seal for recovering the architectural appearance of the abbey church. But if it was at all like the original, it would seem to have been a Norman building, with a tower and spire at the west end, and also a short tower and spire on each transept. The west front may have been of Early English or Decorated character. If other collectors would follow the good example of Mr. Golding, and occasionally contribute isolated matters from their stores, many missing links in our county archæology would be usefully supplied. Gilbert Haultoft's Will. COMMUNICATED BY THE REV. AUGUSTUS JESSOPP, D.D. IN the second volume of the Norfolk Archæology, p. 97 and seq., there is a valuable and interesting collection of Extracts from Wills preserved in the muniment-room at Stow Bardolph Hall. The extracts were made by that accomplished archæologist, the late Rev. G. H. Dashwood, and are characterised by his usual accuracy and judgment. Unfortunately they are only extracts, and therefore unsatisfactory. In the course of this year, while pursuing some genealogical researches, I applied to Sir Thomas Hare, through Mr. Dashwood's successor, the Rev. E. E. Blencowe, for permission to inspect one of the wills from which Mr. Dashwood had printed his extracts, viz., that of Gilbert Haultoft of Outwell. In a courteous reply, I was informed that since Mr. Dashwood had printed his extracts the will had disappeared. A careful search has since then been instituted, but hitherto without result. Some weeks ago, while turning over the MSS. at Rainthorpe Hall, I came upon a Household Book which formerly belonged to the Finchams of Outwell. Its contents are of a very miscellaneous character, but all bear more or less upon the history of the parishes of Outwell, Upwell, and Elme, and are mainly concerned with the constant disputes regarding the drainage of these and the contiguous parishes. The earliest document is a transcript of an award made by Henry, Prior of La Marchmont, and Sir Henry de Walpole, Knight, on a dispute concerning the repairing of a bank or dyke in the parishes of Outwell and Upwell, and which dates back to the year 1308. The latest was written during the reign of Charles I. Among these documents I found the will of Gilbert Haultoft in extenso, and a minute account of all his lands and tenements, with the names of the various tenants at the time of his death. The award of Sir Henry de Walpole has been referred to by Collins and Blomefield, but has never been printed. Gilbert Haultoft's will is now given in full to guard against all risks of any future loss or destruction of so interesting a document. This will settles a question which has been discussed among us before. In more than one pedigree of the Walpole family it has been asserted that Henry Walpole of Harpley married a daughter of Gilbert Haultoft, (either Alianore or Margaret) and through her became possessed of the Whaplode estates, which were sold in 1591. This will and the terrier annexed makes no mention whatever of any estates in Lincolnshire. Moreover, it is quite clear that Gilbert Haultoft had but three daughters. One of these (Margaret) was married at the time of her father's death to Thomas Kerville, and inherited the manor of Richmond, with lands in Wisbeach and Leverington, and had issue. Alianore, the third daughter, married Simon Bachfort of Bexwell, and inherited the manor of Lovell and other lands in Emneth: she too left issue. Alice, the second daughter, married Thomas Dereham of Crimplesham, and had by him a daughter, Elizabeth, through whom the lands in Outwell, Upwell, and Elme descended to the Finchams, by her marriage with John Fincham of Outwell, who died in 1528. It is quite certain, therefore, that there was no marriage between a Walpole and any daughter of Gilbert Haultoft. That Henry Walpole of Harpley did marry a Haultoft I do not doubt at all; but she must have been descended, I think, from the "William Haultoft, senior," who was one of the executors of Gilbert Haultoft's will, and who figures as one of the twenty-two principal people in Lincolnshire, who are returned upon the Subsidy Rolls in Henry VII.'s reign as holding land or rents above £40 a year in value. In this roll his name appears as "Willielmus Haltoft de Quaplode, senior." -Subsidy Rolls, Norfolk, S.P.O. 19. Testamtm Gilberti Haultoft secūdi Baronis Scaccarij (sic) Dñi Regis Henrici Sexti. In dei nomine Amen. Ego Gilbertus Haultoft de Outwell sane (Deo dante) memorie xmo die Januarii An° Dñi Mmo ccccmo Imo viimo condo Testamtm meu ac meā ultimā voluntatem in hunc modum. Imprimis lego Animam mea Deo Redemptori meo et Corpus meu ad sepeliendu infra sacrū locu ubi Deo placuerit. Et volo quod primo et præ aliis sequentibus omnia debita mea, quæ debeo, solvantur. Et quod debita restitutio pro injuriis meis, si que fuerint, fiat cito absque delacione p Executores meos. Item volo quod xx ti. quas debeo Simeoni Eyn de London pro Wmo Blakman pro manerio de Richmond solvantur per Executores meos. Item volo quod Margareta uxor mea habeat durante vita omnia maneria terras tenta redditus et servicia, que habeo, ac que aliqua persona (sic) ad usum et proficium meum habet in villis de Outwell, Upwell, Elme, Wisebeche, Leverington, et Emneth tam in Com. Can?, quam in Com. Norff. si ipsa sola sine marito manserit, et non maritata in posterū fuerit, absque aliquo wasto inde faciend, ita quod ipsa honeste custodiet Aliciam et Alianoram filias meas et ipsas maritaverit et invenierit unu Capellanu idoneu anñātim |