XLII. Account of some Antiquities found in Gloucestershire. By the Rev. Mr. Mutlow; in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. Douglas, F.A.S.

Extract

I duly received your favour of the 23d of September, and have endeavoured all in my power to get satisfactory answers to your queries. In the first place I have to inform you that the coffin was found within about fifty yards of the Roman Way called Ermin-street, which went from St. David's in Wales to Southampton, and about eighteen miles from Cloucester crosses the Roman Foss-way: but notwithstanding this circumstance, I am of opinion that the coffin in question did not belong to a Roman, but to a Saxon, in support of which I have to say that in the heptarchy Gloucestershire being a part of the Mercian kingdom, the Roman Way went by a palace of the kings of Mercia, which was situate in a field adjoining to that in which the coffin, &c. was found (the foundation of which I have seen) and to this day is called the Kingsholm, and a few years since there were two stone coffins (there generally supposed Roman) found close to the Ermin street, one of which was about fix feet and a half in length, and nearly in the form of a cistern, and I believe upon consideration, you will be of opinion that the Romans never interred their dead in lead.